54 The right to social security of the workers in the informal economy/ sector burden of purchasing the units is on jeepney groups. One of the respondents explained that if the programs are sufficient, poverty and hunger should not be an issue among them but their stories reveal otherwise.158 Also, it was shared that when they get sick, there is no accessible health service facility that could provide free services.159 Information about the social protection programs is not readily available and properly disseminated to them.160 Also, they asserted that the language in the available information uses technical terminologies which they do not understand especially those who did not undergo formal education. While all of them received the second tranche of the SAP, the amount is measly especially for those with no, low, or unstable incomes. With this, they asserted that they could no longer endure the prolonged joblessness and loss of incomes. The restrictions imposed on public transportation affected the main source of livelihood of the jeepney drivers and operators, even after the lifting of the restriction. V. Concluding Observations 1. The average income of the WIES during the lockdown fell to 49.82 percent. Before the lockdown, the participants were earning an average of PhP 550.14 per day. However, during the pandemic, the average income is only PhP 276.07 per day. Obviously, the quarantine restrictions had an adverse impact on their ability to generate income, primarily due to the limited economic activities and transportation. 2. The average income of the participants before the pandemic appears to be above the minimum wage prescribed by the NWPC by PhP 13.14. However, the expenditure of the family on food alone is above the food threshold of PhP 7,337. The participants are spending PhP 8,666.70 monthly on food. It is 71.61 percent of their monthly expenditure. Thus, only 28.39 percent or PhP 3,426.38 remains to be spent for other necessities such as electricity, water, rent, mobile load, medicines, milk, laundry detergents, and hygiene kits. It seems that this amount is insufficient to cover other essential needs as the FGDs revealed that the participants are spending around PhP 679.91 daily or approximately PhP 20,397.30 monthly for other basic necessities. This Consultation with the workers in the informal economy/sector, supra note 119. Consultation with the workers in the informal economy/sector, supra note 117. 160 Id. 158 159

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