Implementation of Alternative Delivery Mode Learning Resources Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Basis for Intervention Program

This study aimed to assess the implementation of the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Learning Resources as a basis for an intervention program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Using a universal sampling technique, a total of 30 Learning Resource Coordinators in a selected school division in Central Luzon, Philippines participated in the survey and data gathering. The researchers also used an adapted research instrument to gather essential information for the study. With the help Microsoft Excel, the researchers tabulated and organized the data. Afterwards, the gathered data underwent descriptive statistical analysis using frequency and percentage. The study found that the ADM Learning Resources developed by teachers exceeded DepEd's total number of Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs). For the total number of learners who preferred modular printed learning modality, it reached 67.89%. There were 100% ADM Learning Resources provided to learners in all grade levels for the status of printed learning resources. Based on the earlier results, the researcher provided some essential recommendations, particularly an intervention program for this study.

Dynamics and Trends in Vaccine Procurement and Distribution in Zimbabwe

The subject of COVID-19 vaccines has generated debate across the globe as it has created a fecund ground for a plethora of dynamics such as vaccine diplomacy, misinformation, and struggle for dominance among global powers to mention but a few. Thus, the vaccine subject has taken-center stage in global discourses, resulting in developing and developed nations experiencing challenges in respect to purchase, transparency, and accountability in the administration of vaccines. The subject of vaccines in Zimbabwe has provoked public skepticism indicative of the existing trust deficit between government and the citizens. This emanates from strong evidence of abuse of public resources and hence questions of transparency and accountability especially in relation to disaster situations. To this end, this paper seeks to bring to light the trends and dynamics in vaccine procurement and distribution in Zimbabwe. The study examines the correlation between vaccine diplomacy (donation-trap diplomacy) and vaccine purchases. A chronological analysis of the approved vaccines, rejection of Johnson and Johnson and sudden acceptance, natural resource implications of the donations from ALROSA, poor public resource management, vaccine shortages, vaccine misinformation and vaccine cheating. Possible ways of enhancing vaccine intake through quality information are also discussed and Zimbabwe`s performance against other African nations is examined. The research ends by proposing a series of questions which should be embraced to fully comprehend the trends and dynamics of vaccine procurement and distribution.

Oath of Government Employees-Based Standards and Organizational Commitment in a Local Government Unit in Central Luzon, Philippines

The study aimed to assess the organizational commitment and the internalization of the standards contained in the Oath of Government Employees (Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno) based on the experience of the employee of the Local Government Unit of Olongapo. It will specifically focus on four key result areas reflected in the pledge of commitment: honesty and integrity, proper use of government property, fight against corruptions, technical and professional competencies. The researcher used a descriptive research method and utilized a cross-sectional design with the questionnaire as the main data gathering tool. The population of the study consisted of the employees in the different service-delivery units of a highly urbanized city in Central Luzon, Philippines. A sample size representing ten percent (10%) of the total population determined the respondents for the study. The sample respondents were selected among the different service-delivery units of the local government unit using a simple random sampling technique. This study intended to prove the significant difference in the organizational commitment of employees in the local government unit in terms of gender, age, and length of service. Furthermore, the research also tried to determine the relationship between the Oath of Government Employees – Based Standards and Employees Organizational Commitment in the local government unit of the involved highly urbanized city. The result of the study will serve as a basis to develop a proposed Service Charter for each of the service-delivery units of the local government of the City.

Budget Allocation System of a Highly Urbanized Local Government Unit in Central Luzon, Philippines

The study determined the local planning and budget process of a highly urbanized local government unit (LGU) in Central Luzon, Philippines. It involves all department concerns and civil society organizations (CSOs) that use the City's local governance performance management system (LGPMS). The researchers used a descriptive research study to obtain the necessary data from a survey to seventy-five (75) rank and file employees. The researchers used a purposive sampling technique to gather the respondents involved in planning, budgeting, and managing programs and projects. With a self-made instrument that underwent validity, the researchers gathered the essential data for the study. The data were statistically analyzed using frequency, percentage distribution, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and t-test for independent variables. Preliminary results illustrated that respondents' status was in regular status as division head level, and their years of service were more than sixteen (16) years. The statistical analyses revealed no significant variations in the assessment on the budget allocation system of the local government unit (LGU) as determined on its indicators. The management also agrees that employees work effectively in the budget allocation of the local government unit. The study recommended the orientation and assessment on the current allocation and budget process wherein the department's prioritization can review the objectives and policy decisions.

Relationship between Introversion and Extroversion Personality and Learning Styles of UPSI Student

This research is conducted to identify the Relationship between Introversion and Extroversion Personality with Learning Style of UPSI students. This research is conducted to identify the relationship of the Introversion and Extroversion personality affect the by the Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic (VAK) learning style. In addition, suitable activities are also discussed to suit the needs of introversion and extroversion personality. A total of 233 second year UPSI students were selected in this research. The data was collected using questionnaire and divided into two parts. The first part is the identification of the introversion and extroversion personality of the respondent and the second part is the learning style of the respondent which are divided into 3 parts which are Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic. The data collected was then analysed using Pearson Correlation test. The Pearson Correlation test shows no significant between the introversion and extroversion personality of the respondent and the VAK learning style due to the p=.730. Suitable activities consist of hands-on and group activities is among the major suggestion collected from the respondent. In conclusion, although there is no significant between Introversion and Extroversion personality and VAK learning style, the teacher should pay attention to their students’ behavior in a learning environment to ensure the engagement of the students towards the lesson taught by them

The Shadow Pandemic: Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Zimbabwean Informal Sector in Chiredzi District

COVID-19 has disrupted the business sector globally, ushering developed and developing economies into an unprecedented recession beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. Governments across the globe have adopted a myriad of preventive measures. These remedial actions vary from one country to the other. Nonetheless, in Zimbabwe the government gave a blind eye on the informal sector as evidenced by the adopted preventive measures which neglected the plight of informal traders. To this end, this research interrogates the shadow pandemic in the Zimbabwean informal sector using Chiredzi District as an illustrative case study. Documentary review and key informed interviews were at the core of research methodology. The study found out that informal economy businesses are excluded from government grants, closure of businesses, failure to pay rentals, disruption of the supply chain, psychological impact and family dysfunctional are the quandaries causing a shadow pandemic. Inclusion of informal economy businesses in policies and government grants, government should negotiate with landlords, informal traders should be allowed to operate and inclusive social nets are the possible remedial actions that the government can adopted.

Sources of Information, Training Needs, Preparation and Response to Disaster of Selected Communities in Central Luzon, Philippines

Nature has its due course and disaster is always an aftermath of a catastrophic event. The purpose of this study is to assess the sources of information, training needs, preparation, and response of the community to disaster. To achieve this purpose, the study used a descriptive design with the survey as the instrument for data gathering. For the respondents, 136 individuals took part in the survey which took two months to accommodate. The researcher created a simple survey instrument and subjected it to reliability and validity tests. In analyzing the data, the researcher used weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test, and analysis of variance. Results showed that the radio is the most common source of information to disaster. Respondents emphasized the need for disaster training in the community and they also indicated that they partially observed the preparation and response in their communities. At the same time, there were significant differences observed in the sources of information, training needs, preparation, and response to the disaster of the respondents when grouped according to their communities. Furthermore, a significant difference emerged in the training needs when grouped according to the members of the family. Based on the results, the researcher recommends a community disaster preparation enhancement program for the involved communities in the study.

Step by Step Implementation of DSRM for Personalization of Reading

This paper aims to discuss step-by-step activities of the implementation of Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) in the development of Personalization teaching and learning materials for children. DSRM is adapted in the development of personalized teaching and learning materials due to its potential to provide specific guidelines based on specific outcomes. This paper revealed the potential of DSRM as a reliable and comprehensive methodology that leads the developer on step by step processes to perform the development. Apart from that this study provides details description on the development of personalized teaching and learning materials that is successfully developed using the DSRM methodology as guidelines.

An Investigation into Organisation Capacity for National Disaster Management in Zimbabwe: The Case of the Department of Civil Protection

Across the globe, disasters – both natural and man-made – have threatened humanity. These disasters had grave and devastating impact on human life, infrastructure, and the environment as evidenced by the February 2000 Cyclone Eline and March 2019 Cyclone Idai. This research sought to investigate the Department of Civil Protection`s (DCP) capacity in national disaster management. The research examines how the DCP handled cyclones from 2000-2019 in Chimanimani District. Organisational capacity was assessed on the basis of its core principles which are: leadership, management and operations, community engagement, service and evaluation. The study discovered that inadequate financial and human resources, poor emergency response systems, weak learning and lessons drawing, reactive disaster management, weak pre-disaster management community engagement, poor reconstruction and failure to harmonise military and DCP operational structures are factors undermining DCP`s capacity for national disaster management. The research recommends that government should avail adequate resources, DCP should be proactive in disaster management, should openly contract-out reconstruction works, and collaborate with universities to strengthen organisational learning capacity, align military and DCP operational structures and processes and let Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) distribute food and other humanitarian aid.

Dr. Harassment Matters: Perception of Students on hazardity of Political, Religious, Economic, Sexual and Social Harassment in the Academia

This study investigated the perception students have on the relative hazardity of political, religious, economic, sexual and social harassment on students. Four hundred students were drawn as research respondents through convenience and stratified sampling techniques. Using Likert type scale, respondents were requested to indicate the level of hazard of each political, religious, economic, sexual and social harassment (PRESS) factor using 5 = very hazardous; 4 = hazardous; 3 = neutral; 2 = not hazardous; 1 = less hazardous. Digital interview was used to obtain data from the respondents. Frequency counts, percentage, relative importance index and chi square were used to analyse the data. Results indicated that the PRESS factors were perceived as hazardous by students; however, contrary to popular belief that sexual harassment was most hazardous, the results indicated that religious harassment was the most hazardous; sexual harassment was second; economic harassment was third; political harassment was fourth; and social harassment was fifth. Based on the findings, it was recommended that harassment factors should be addressed according to their magnitude; and that addressing harassment behaviour should be holistic and comprehensive. Furthermore, education of stakeholders should take the issue of harassment serious by being proactive. Keywords: Economic harassment, political harassment, religious harassment, sexual harassment, and social harassment.