Heroes of The Road: The Struggles of the Tricycle Drivers Amidst COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

Robert S. Pardillo, Ian Augustine Celiz, Jason Florez, Lymar Lavina, Chris Jude Lumawag, Rene Platini and Mark Sigaton

Despite the threat of COVID-19, the people were encouraged by their hardships and fortitude to be strong and continue with life. This research study focused on the struggles of tricycle drivers amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. Tricycle drivers ensure the safety of their passengers, and they make the ride sweeter with their beautiful smiles. Everything seemed to be fine until the pandemic came. Because of lockdowns, people cannot leave their homes except for healthcare workers and other essential workers. A phenomenological approach was used in this qualitative study to assess the experiences of the five tricycle drivers and was chosen using an inclusion criterion. The data were thematically analyzed using Lichtman's 3Cs. The result revealed the themes that the data identified showed are mental wellbeing with subthemes of anxiety, de- pression, and uncertainty about the future, financial difficulties with subthemes of loss of income and family survival, and positive outlook by looking forward to recovery with subthemes on government support and strong family ties [1-3]. The lockdowns implemented caused a temporary halt in the transportation and mobility of drivers. Because of those restric- tions, the only source of income for the drivers was also affected, and they struggled to survive.

In conclusion, the government must be equipped to handle the difficulties that may arise during the pandemic. The gov- ernment's support to the drivers and other sectors of society must be visible, and the government needs to catch up when the pandemic strikes. Government should look into the welfare of this sector because they are considered the blood of the economy. The government should always be ready when a disaster strikes and empower its citizen much more during the pandemic [1].

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