THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN METRO CEBU

Abstract

The Philippines "golden age" of infrastructure was shattered when a global health threat - the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - struck the country and the rest of the world, resulting in a massive recession and economic crisis, notably in the building asset procurement and facility management industries. Following a significant increase in COVID-19 instances, many countries have imposed a total national lockdown that has restricted people's movement and resulted in the closure of several firms in various industries, specifically in the construction industry, to which all plans and initiatives have been put on hold till further notice. As a result, it is reasonable to address the pandemic's impact at the start and end of the crisis to prepare for any future possibilities and learn lessons for plans. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 and produce baseline information that may guide the government, non-government agencies, organizations, and companies in the construction industry to make valuable refinements of policies, motivate new interventions, and integrate post-pandemic and pre-pandemic plans, programs, and investments to address the impact of COVID-19 and other similar crisis. The study found that COVID-19 had a prominent effect on the overall project development, particularly from the delay of several processes and procurement of materials. Also, the result shows the reasons for not complying with the COVID-19 health guidelines. It suggests several methods to help fellow contractors or construction companies in dealing with the continuation of the construction business amidst the challenges faced by COVID-19.