TITLE: Effects of COVID-19 to the People of Santa Praxedes
Submmited by:
Gian Lord D. Addep
Submitted to:
Ms. Adary C. Matias
What are your experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In the province of Cagayan, Santa Praxedes is a coastal municipality that consists 10
barangays and has a land area of 78.11 square kilometers or 30.16 square miles while 0.83%
of which constitutes the total area of the Cagayan. Santa Praxedes is a fifth class municipality
that has a population of 4,434 (at the year of 2020). Fishing, farming and tourism is the main
source of the economic activity of the municipality. Tourist spots includes Portabaga Fallsand
Mingay Beach.
Pandemic is defined as an outbreak caused by a disease that occurs in a wide area. It is
an epidemic caused by an infectious disease that spreads and affects a large number of people.
One example of a pandemic is the recently known COVID-19. According to WHO (World
Health Organization), COVID-19 or Coronavirus Disease, is an infectious mild to moderate
respiratory disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus. COVID-19 virus can spread through
coughing, sneezing, or even just breathing. It is not only the life and health of the people was
being affected by the disease but also the small towns and municipalities. This paper will study
the effects of pandemic on the people of Santa Praxedes and how did the small town recovered
from the challenges of the pandemic.
The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Wuhan, China around December 2019. At
January 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as an outbreak. At the same
month, the Philippines recorded its first case of COVID-19and it was the beginning of the
country’s challenges, in which the country’s economic growth and development have been
affected.
Sta. Praxedes is a small town with small population but rich in tourist spots. The people
in Sta. Praxedes is called “Praxedenias, and their main source of living is farming and fishing.
During the start of the outbreak, Sta. Praxedes remained COVID-19 free for more or less a
year. However, around March 2021, the town recorded its first case and it was the beginning
of the town’s nightmare, for the source of living, income and job oppurtunities were greatly
affected. This study will focus on the effect of COVID-19 to the people of Sta. Praxedes and
on how did they overcome its challenges.
In 1965, the human coronavirus was first identified by scientist that caused a common
colds. Transmitted viruses from animals to human is called zoonotic. One example of zoonotic
virus is the coronavirus and one example of coronavirus is the COVID-19 (Coronavirus
Disease).
The Coronavirus Disease was originated at Wuhan China late December 2019. At the
same year, a novel coronavirus was identified from patients with pneumonia of unknown
etiology from an initial investigation and the novel coronavirus was first designated as SARSCov-2. Within a span of two to three months, the novel coronavirus spreads rapidly and the
number of cases or patients and number of deaths are increasing worldwide. The outbreak was
declared as a public health emergency by the International Health Regulations Emergency
Committee of the World Health Organization on January 2020.
To limit and decrease the number of cases caused by the virus, strict measures were
being implanted like social distancing, proper handwashing, using surgical mask and face
shields. However, it was clear that it does not stop the spread and scientists believe that a
vaccine must be created. Though a vaccine is typically developed for eight to fifteen years,
the development of a vaccine for the COVID-19 arises one year after the first case was detected.
Moreover, more than thirty vaccines have been approved in countries around the world and
December 2020, effective vaccines was distributed and administered. According to World
Health Organization, COVID-19 vaccines are effective and life-changing.
COVID-19 does not only affect every individual’s life but also the start of economic
development and growth of a country fallout. Throughout 2020, unemployment rate remained
high and tens of millions of people lost their jobs at the beginning of the crisis. Also, millions
of people are at risk to fall in life-threatening poverty and global workforce are at risk of losing
their livelihood for nearly half of 3.3 billion and losing their source of income is also losing
their source of living – less food. Food security was also is at risk especially to those workers
whose wages are in minimum rate. High level of working poverty and malnutrition for millions
of agricultural workers suffer from lack of labor protection and abuse.
In the Philippines, rural livelihoods were greatly affected during the pandemic. One of the
challenges were lack of income opportunities, insufficient supply of medicine and food and
some nutrition issues. We are most aware that in the Philippines, losing a job or source of
income is also a risk for an increasing rate of poverty. During the pandemic, job losses for the
construction sector is 56% while 52% in public transportation. In august 2020, the World Bank
conducted a survey in association with DSWD to monitor and provide insights about pandemic
response. The first round of the survey was conducted in August 2020 and April 2021 for the
second round using a standard questionnaire.
According to the study of Mohsin Shafi (2021), who conducted a research
about Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural communities: a cross-sectional
study in the Sichuan Province of China, data have revealed that the local people
have been affected psychologically by the pandemic and it resulted to
socioeconomic vulnerability. The study used an online survey with a total of 499
participants of f Sichuan Province and the participants were being asked on their
experience in regard with the pandemic. It was also stated in the study that, 40%43% of the local households was being worried regarding about their income losses,
37%-43% for the level of income while 38%-43% for the involvement of industries.
It was also concluded that the involvement of government has a huge impact of
what the pandemic have brought and that the pandemic have affect not only to the
health of the people but also for the pschological and income aspect.
In reference to that, this paper will use a descriptive method as the researcher
aims to define and describe the effects of COVID 19 to the people of Santa Praxedes.
Descriptive method is a process of gathering, analysing, classifying, and tabulating
about prevailing conditions, trends, andprocess and afterwards, making adequate and
accurate interpretation of the data. Distribution of questionnaire will also be
conducted to the ten barangays of Santa Praxedes. Data will be gathered from the
farmers, fisherfolks, and business sector of Santa Praxedes.
With the help of previous studies, this paper will provide a special role to
our municipality because the effects of COVID-19 to the people of Santa Praxedes
will be determined. It can be a tool to assess how our Local Government have
responded during the pandemic. It can also be reference to provide a better health
response if another pandemic will occur. Thus, it is important to identify the effects
of the pandemic to our town so that the voice of every praxedenians will be heard.
Hearing the stories and experinces of every Praxedenian will be a guide to provide
help in the future incoming pandemic.
With this, it is important to classify and identify the effects of pandemic not
only ot the health of people but also to the daily life of every individual.
REFERENCES:
https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/r02/cagayan/santa-praxedes.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Praxedes,_Cagayan
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pandemic
https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
https://www.adb.org/publications/covid-19-impact-msme-under-lockdown-evidencerapid-survey-philippines
https://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/how-covid-19-impacted-vulnerablecommunities-philippines
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e046745