Metro residents’ purchasing pattern returns to normal

Metro Manila consumption activities are back to normal after being severely hit by the twin typhoons that hit late last year, leading global market intelligence company Synovate Inc. revealed in a study.

Synovate surveyed 1,000 respondents all over Metro Manila with ages ranging from 15 to 64 years, across all income classes. About a fourth said that they were very much or extremely affected (26 percent) by typhoon “Ondoy.” Worse hit were those from the lower income households.

Most (85 percent) had flood water entering their houses, with a tenth (13 percent) describing their house as being severely damaged, and an equal number saying that they had to relocate shortly after typhoon Ondoy. In addition, one out of 10 was hosting relatives or friends who had to move out of their homes which were worse hit. A month after Ondoy, close to a tenth were still in the process of putting their lives back to normal.

Ondoy’s aftermath took its toll on the consumer’s purchasing power. Six out of ten had to lessen the frequency or even discontinue their purchase of products, ranging from food and beverage (57 percent), personal and baby care, health and beauty products (46 percent) to other items such as jewelry, pet food, cigarettes and books.

These were items which people felt were either not a necessity or had to be sacrificed to cut down on expenses in general as an effect of the typhoon.

Consumers were more prudent in their purchases of carbonated soft drinks, snack foods (chips and curls), canned fish and meat, biscuits, branded fresh meat, bread and bread spreads, powdered iced tea, and processed meats like hotdog and bacon. Purchase of Baby care and personal care products like lotion, moisturizer and whitening products, shampoo and health supplements also slowed down.

Last year, the National Disaster Coordinating Council previously estimated the cost of damage brought by Ondoy at P10.45 billion, with P3.864 billion in infrastructure and P6.766 billion in agriculture. These also include damages of household items, business establishments, sanitation and garbage disposal, environmental costs, and health expenses, among others. Due to these massive losses, most Filipinos have definitely recognized the true value of saving some for the rainy days.  –Ayen Infante, Daily Tribune