Presentation Information
[1K02]Formal and Informal Social Protection in Urban Informal Settlements in Pasig City, Metro Manila
*JESSICA SANDRA CLAUDIO1, MELISSA QUETULIO-NAVARRA1 (1. Ateneo de Manila University)
Keywords:
social protection,informality,urban poor
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare longstanding disparities in the distribution of social protection in the Philippines. For the metropolitan urban poor engaged in informal labor, the crisis underscored the insufficiency of state-run safety nets and the enduring importance of informal support systems. This paper aims to answer the following research questions: What formal and informal social protection mechanisms do women and men in the metropolitan informal economy access for their recovery? What forms of social assistance do they urgently need from the state? What are their aspirations in terms of participating in the state process of recalibrating the social protection program?
To answer these, a survey was conducted to 200 urban poor households in three barangays in Pasig City (Metro Manila, Philippines). The results indicate that informal networks often compensate for the limitations of formal systems, as most urban poor households depend on close ties for financial and material support, which were perceived as more accessible and responsive during times of emergencies, especially in the face of weak state capacity. Among formal social protection programs, most households rely on political patrons than on formal programs. The pandemic catalyzed a shift in expectations and aspirations among informal sector communities, as participants expressed a strong desire for participatory involvement in shaping more responsive social protection policies. However, the state appears to have reverted to a business-as-usual approach. This mismatch underscores the urgency of a more inclusive deliberation and policymaking approach.
To answer these, a survey was conducted to 200 urban poor households in three barangays in Pasig City (Metro Manila, Philippines). The results indicate that informal networks often compensate for the limitations of formal systems, as most urban poor households depend on close ties for financial and material support, which were perceived as more accessible and responsive during times of emergencies, especially in the face of weak state capacity. Among formal social protection programs, most households rely on political patrons than on formal programs. The pandemic catalyzed a shift in expectations and aspirations among informal sector communities, as participants expressed a strong desire for participatory involvement in shaping more responsive social protection policies. However, the state appears to have reverted to a business-as-usual approach. This mismatch underscores the urgency of a more inclusive deliberation and policymaking approach.
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