Metro Roxas Water District Frontliners’ Experiences and Coping Mechanisms amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights for Policy Directions

Abstract

The Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD), as a service provider of basic commodity in Roxas City, has to consider the frontliners’ experiences amidst the epidemic in improving its organizational and operational systems. This study determined the MRWD frontliners’ experiences and their coping mechanisms during COVID-19 pandemic, which included 153 MRWD frontliners of the 247 population. A validated researcher-made questionnaire was used. The collected data were examined using percentage, frequency, mean, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson r. Results revealed that respondents perceived their experiences as highly experienced and coping mechanisms were highly applicable. There were significant differences in their experiences and coping mechanisms when grouped according to age, nature of work assignment, and employment status, while no significant differences when grouped according to gender, civil status, and number of years in service. A significant relationship was found between their experiences and coping mechanisms. MRWD management provided necessary responses in addressing the pandemic’s effects based on respondents’ perception. Job roles and assignments were changed in coping with the demand of flexible schedules, additional work and infection prevention among MRWD frontliners and their clients. Result on the experiences and coping mechanisms employed by frontliners as outcome of management intervention and frontliners’ own personal judgment in time of duty in compliance with health protocols and protecting themselves served as insights for the management to set the policies that will help employees and clients to respond, comply, and adjust with more ease should the same situation arises in the future.