Effect of Lockdown on Food Security during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: Two Months after Implementation

Abstract

The alarming presence of COVID-19 challenged the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 2 and made the World Health Organization (WHO) declare a public health emergency of international concern. Imposed lockdowns disrupted the supply and demand chain of the food systems, hence affecting food security. This research would like to know and assess the early effect (two months after the lockdown) of the enhanced community quarantine on food security in the Philippines. An online survey was employed participated by 331 household representatives using a survey instrument containing food security assessment, household socio- demographic characteristics, behavioral responses covering food purchase and consumption behavior, and emergency measure adoption. Statistical tests were applied: Mann-Whitney U test to know the behavioral response of the food secure vs. food insecure households, as well as the phi coefficient and Cramer’s V test to determine and assess the parameters that plays important role in food security during this period. Results showed that 73% of the respondents were food insecure. The early effect of the lockdown was seen in the behavioral responses, significant differences between food secure and insecure households were found in age, income, and food purchase behavior. Parameters associated with food security are age, income, food allocation, expectations on the livelihood impact and change in expenditure, and the adoption motivations in practicing backyard gardening. The stress evaluation revealed that while Filipinos tried to cope, an increased level of anxiety was experienced. The need for clear measures in terms of preparedness in any pandemic situation was heightened. These findings are significant in providing benchmark information on food security during a pandemic.

The role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the COVID-19 response across the Global South: A multinational, qualitative study

“…Many LMIC governments instituted strict lockdowns at the start of the pandemic, following the lead of high-income countries in the Global North, but without regards to the more significant impacts these lockdowns would have on the livelihoods of their populations [ 15 , 16 ]. In populations with large proportions of individuals working in the informal sector or for daily wages, lockdowns resulted in rapid food shortages and hunger for millions of individuals, largely by preventing individuals from working and also through disruptions in food supply chains [ 37 – 39 ]. Our research demonstrates that perhaps the greatest contribution of CSOs across the Global South during the COVID-19 pandemic was mitigating the effects of lockdown-related food shortages in vulnerable communities.…”