Thesis (BS Agribusiness Economics) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, July 2022

This paper investigated the operational performance of men and women-led MSMEs and the changes to the female distribution in the MSME sector in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the factors affecting these changes. A business impact survey was performed between 110 MSMEs in Davao Region with the aid of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center which is a partnership of the academe, the industry and the government between October to December 2020. Operational performance of men and women-led entities were determined sing Mann-Whitney U Test, T-test, and Chi-square test. Changes in the female distribution across different level of management is analyzed using Binary Logit model. This study found that there were more men-led firms which were open at 76% or more capacity than women-led firms. Heavy disruption in the processing of products and heavy delay in their distribution in the availability of inputs impact the changes in the distribution of female workers under board of directors /owner/stockholder number of employees before during the lockdown for senior management number of employees during lockdown for middle management number of employees during lockdown and delivery of inputs for supervisor/team leader and number of employees during lockdown and processing of products for staff. The presence of accessible loans efficient and sustainable supply chains in the form of trainings like management plans and partnerships with different involved entities in the supply chains and protection among employees like income support for a period of time and insurance benefits would help women-led entities and women workers during crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the need for women to step-up in the industry with the aid of several strategies coming from the government and non-government organizations would help then thrive during and even after the pandemic.