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Natural hazards are one of the destructive phenomena that pose a significant hazard to humans, property, and the economy, among others. One of the most recurring natural hazards is flooding, which is caused by typhoons, monsoons, and heavy rainfall and has been one of the main concerns of the Philippines in recent years. The study’s results will provide information on the factors affecting flood disaster preparedness by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). A total of 509 individuals answered an online survey questionnaire with 52 adapted questions. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that risk perception (RP), media (M), and personal experience (PE) had an effect on perceived severity (PS) and perceived vulnerability (PV), which consequently affected the attitude toward the behavior (ATB), social norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC). It was determined that ATB, SN, and PBC significantly affected adapted behavior (AB), which consequently led to intention to follow (ITF) and perceived prevention (PP). After analyzing the data, it was revealed that 56.2% of female respondents were said to be more disaster resilient compared to males. This is the first study to determine the perceived prevention of disaster preparedness and mitigation in flood-prone areas in the Philippines. The results will be beneficial to academicians and government officials in developing determining factors that affect flood disaster preparedness. Lastly, a deeper understanding of how AB is the most significant variable may be further researched to improve the paper.

BACKGROUND: Virtual meetings have been widely utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of organizational commitment on the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting by Filipino professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 513 Filipino professionals answered an online questionnaire which covered four latent variables: organizational commitment to virtual meetings, attitude toward virtual meetings, perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as collaboration tool, and perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as a social tool. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the causal relationships between the latent variables construct. RESULTS: SEM showed that organizational commitment to virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the positive attitude of the employees which subsequently led to the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as a collaboration and social tool. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first study that analyzed the influence of organizational commitment on the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Our SEM construct can be applied and extended further, particularly in analyzing factors influencing the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workforce management has always been an essential consideration by businesses worldwide to improve organizational efficiency. The measurement of diversified labor present in modern Philippine companies has never been viable as generational and cultural differences shape and influences one’s leadership behavior, decision-making, and style. Employee motivation, multigenerational cohort, interpersonal skills, work values, and organizational culture significantly affect company leaders’ perceived effectiveness, resulting in varying management styles and approaches applicable to service companies. This study aimed to determine significant variables affecting the perceived leadership effectiveness and metacognition between multigenerational management clusters among service companies integrating behavioral theories such as Generational Cohort Theory (GCT) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Through self-administered questionnaires, data was utilized for multivariate analysis through structural equation modeling using the SPSS statistical software and SPSS AMOS 29 software and random forest classifier utilizing Python 5.1. Results showed that Motivation, Managerial Cohort, Organizational Culture, and Work values have a high-level relationship with Perceived Behavioral Control, Attitude Towards Behavior, and Social Norms. The results presented could be utilized in evaluating the management sector in service industries to provide and develop an optimum approach to leadership management. Managerial insights and suggestions are shown in the study.

Work study among manufacturing companies helps to innovate processes that promote productivity, efficiency, and improvement. Based on the company’s data, 67.81% delay occurrence has been recorded in the corrugated boxes production due to work in process, overproduction, and bottleneck, attributed to the pile-up of boards causing 732 min of time delays resulting in an annual profit loss of PhP 1,025,464.20. This study aims to identify the critical factors causing process delays in the corrugated boxes production and optimize the actual process occurring in the operations. Specifically, the study sought to determine the operational requirements, process capability considering the company’s target output, and the time standards presently being utilized. Through the use of time and motion studies, the current process efficiency was recorded to be 76% based on the productivity rate. Recommendations such as equally distributed boards per machine, main working area expansion, and additional manpower and machines are expected to increase the customer satisfaction and minimize the company’s annual profit loss by at least 7.74%.

Continuous process improvement helps to eliminate inefficiencies, minimize costs, and establish production standards in ensuring the company’s productivity and profitability; however, the company that does not meet its targeted output is expected to garner profit loss. Based on the peanut production line for a food manufacturing company, process delay experienced between sorting and frying operations results in approximately 61.73% lost time, affecting company workers’ productivity and a recorded weekly production loss amounting to PhP. 15,400.00 assuming consistent purchase orders. This paper aims to identify the factors inherent in the delays experienced in the peanut production process to minimize the bottlenecks encountered by the company to minimize the bottlenecks pertinent to the production. Using time and motion, the obtained worker’s efficiency was documented to be 85% based on the computed productivity rate. The recommendation includes the elimination of unnecessary activities, establishment of time standard, and examination of employee’s working posture while doing their work activities are projected to improve workers’ productivity to 88% and enhance the time standard of the process with 23.51% time savings.

Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) is considered one of the most devastating typhoons in the Philippines in 2020. It caused fatalities, property destructions, and catastrophic flooding in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting the perceived effectiveness of the 2020 typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) flood disaster response among Filipinos by integrating the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). 567 Filipinos answered an online survey questionnaire with 75 questions (63 indicators and 11 latent variables). Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that geographical perspective (GL) and typhoon – flood experience and knowledge (TPE) had significant effects on Perceived Severity (PS) and Perceived Vulnerability (PV), which subsequently led to Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), Subjective Norms (SN), and Attitude (ATB). PBC, SN, and ATB were also found to have significant effects on Intention to Follow, which subsequently led to Behavior and Perceived Effectiveness from the 2020 Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) flood disaster risk response. Interestingly, government support (GR) was insignificant to an effective flood disaster response, and 52.38% of respondents perceived that the typhoon had more severe effects than the flood after the typhoon. This study is the first study that analyzed the perceived effectiveness of disaster response towards 2020 Typhoon Vamco. The findings will be very beneficial for academicians and policymakers as it provides a robust model and results for experts to analyze natural disasters to develop optimum disaster risk responses in mitigating the severe effects of typhoon floods. Finally, the SEM construct can be broadened and adapted to flood disaster response effectiveness applicable in other natural disaster-prone countries.

The implementation of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected most businesses worldwide. The transportation business, specifically in the Philippines, has been heavily affected since only the healthcare and essential workers were allowed to leave their homes during the early stage of the pandemic. This paper aimed to explore the service quality of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing the SERVQUAL dimensions. A total of 564 participants answered an online questionnaire using the convenience sampling approach, consisting of 58 questions. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to derive the causal relationships between SERVQUAL dimensions, COVID-19 safety protocol, and customer satisfaction simultaneously. Out of the six dimensions, the SEM indicated that COVID-19 protocols, tangibility, and assurance variables were found to significantly affect PUV service quality and thus, customer satisfaction. This study is one of the first complete studies that analyzed the PUV service quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings could provide the government with an evaluation of the compliance of PUVs to the imposed COVID-19 protocols. Furthermore, the framework of this study could also be applied and extended in evaluating PUV worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the fitness centers industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of gym-goers on fitness centers in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. One thousand gym-goers voluntarily participated in this study and answered 22 queries created from the orthogonal design. The results indicated that Price was the highest attribute considered (21.59%), followed by Ventilation (17.56%), Service (16.59%), Trainer (14.63%), Payment Method (11.95%), Operating Hours (8.90%), and Login (8.70%). The results also indicated that comfort, security, and fitness center services were the main aspects that gym-goers would consider as their main preference. The study highlighted how gym-goers are sensitive to the price set by the fitness centers. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation and size are considered highly important attributes among gym-goers. Comfort, safety, and security are the main consideration to have sustainable fitness centers during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of this study may benefit fitness centers and increase their business market by considering the preference of customers. Finally, the result of this study can be utilized by fitness centers to promote a generalized fitness center for gym-goers of different generations, statuses, and even socioeconomic status during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Taal Volcano eruption was one of the most severe disasters in the Philippines in 2020. The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting response action of the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption among Filipinos in Luzon, Philippines. Several factors including asset damage, eruption characteristics, disaster experience, socio-demographic characteristics, evacuation characteristics, and perceived severity were analyzed simultaneously by utilizing a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. A total of 501 respondents were collected from Filipinos who lived in Batangas (411 respondents), Manila (82 respondents), and Pampanga (8 respondents). SEM showed that asset damage had the highest effect on perceived severity (β: 0.68; p=0.001), followed by eruption characteristics (β: 0.49; p=0.001) and evacuation characteristics (β: 0.25; p=0.012) while disaster experience and socio-demographic characteristics had no significant effects on perceived severity. This study is the first study that analyzes the perceived severity of the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption. The findings would be very beneficial for researchers and policymakers to reduce the perceived severity of the eruption. Finally, the SEM construct can be applied and extended to determine factors affecting perceived severity of volcanic eruptions in other countries.

Icons have been widely utilized to describe and promote COVID-19 prevention measures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the preference and subjective design features of 133 existing icons associated with COVID-19 prevention measures published by the health and medical organizations of different countries. The 133 icons represent nineteen different function names, such as “Wash Hands” and “Wear Face Mask”. A total of 57 participants were recruited to perform two different tests: ranking test and subjective rating test. The ranking test was conducted to elicit the preference ranking of seven icon designs representing each function name. It was followed by a subjective rating test using 13 semantic scales on the two most preferred icons to analyze their perceived quality. Spearmen correlation was applied to derive the possible correlations between users’ rankings and the semantic scales, and Friedman’s test was also performed to determine the true difference between ranking in terms of each semantic scale to provide a fully meaningful interpretation of the data. Generally, findings from the current study showed that the image presented in the icon is the key point that affects the icons’ perceived quality. Interestingly, Spearman’s correlation analysis between preference ranking and semantic scales showed that vague–clear, weak–strong, incompatible–compatible, and ineffective–effective were the four strongest semantic scales that highly correlated with the preference ranking. Considering the significant relationships between the semantic distances and the functions, images depicted in an icon should be realistic and as close as possible to its respected function to cater to users’ preferences. In addition, the results of Spearman’s correlation and Friedman’s test also inferred that compatibility and clarity of icon elements are the main factors determining a particular icon’s preferability. This study is the first comprehensive study to evaluate the icons associated with the COVID-19 prevention measures. The findings of this study can be utilized as the basis for redesigning icons, particularly for icons related to COVID-19 prevention measures. Furthermore, the approach can also be applied and extended for evaluating other medical icons.

It is in the nature of a human to make mistakes. However, it does not necessarily follow for it not to be reduced or eliminated in a system. A company may experience significant monetary losses due to human error due variability of products being produced. This study aims to reduce, if not eliminate, the probability of occurrence of human error in a chicken processing company. Also, the study used a descriptive research design which applied a two-step methodology – the general to specific approach. For the general approach, human reliability assessment tool: Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART) was utilized in identifying the area or process in the business where the probability of human error occurrence is highest. Afterwards, the specific approach was done targeting the area with highest error probability occurrence. The study used survey questionnaires and random sampling techniques for this phase. As a result, the area with the highest error probability of occurrence is the butchery or the chopping area. Equipped with the findings from the study, several recommendations have been proposed addressing the concerns regarding human error reduction.

In the Philippines, the supply of engineering graduates produced per year is lower than the demand as local industries are becoming engineering-related. This poses a challenge to academic institutions to fill this gap. Assessment reveals low graduation rate in the Engineering programs in the Philippines, where approximately 35.4% of the students are working at the same time. With the aim to help these students prevent possible retakes, the proponents explored and analyzed the effects of workload on academic performance and the factors associated with it. NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was utilized to measure students’ workload in this study. Recommendation presented in this research are interventions to support physical and mental health to better cope in a high workload environment, which will in return translate to better work and academic performance thus an increase in graduation rate.

Productivity among manufacturing production lines can be considered as a crucial part since this can result in improved production and utilization of the available resources. Effective utilization of manpower comes with advantages such as reduction in costs, clarity in performing tasks, saves both money and time and less wastes in resources. In this study, work sampling technique was utilized to measure the manpower utilization of the company. It was observed that current efficiency was 33.67%. Recommendations such as re-assignment of tasks and workers per workstation, additional employees that will sustain the deficiency in the current production, strictly followed production schedules, and lastly, fully utilize the capacity of the machines is expected to increase its production capacity.

Learning management systems (LMS) is an integrated platform used in colleges and universities for distribution of educational materials and facilitate learning servicing various end users i.e. students, teachers and administration. The approach to learning significantly differs from one program to another especially in Engineering. In assessing the effectiveness of LMS, variables considered in the model primarily tap elements critical to system design of a Learning Management System, which investigate the pedagogical approach, usability and user-interface satisfaction aspect. The result showed that LMS was an effective tool to facilitate learning in an undergraduate engineering program in the Philippines because of its interactive environment and availability though it can be made more efficient by adding collaborative learning tools for students, which is deemed vital since engineering is a multidisciplinary and highly collaborative discipline.

Productivity among manufacturing production lines can be considered as a crucial part since this can result in an improved production and utilization of the available resources. Competition intensifies and this compels engineers to continually seek for process improvement. Process improvement denotes to turning a process to more effective, efficient, and transparent. As for the steel manufacturing company, one major concern is the downtime occurrences which had a large impact on their productivity. Necessary data were gathered through problem solving tools to show the company’s present condition. To reduce the clerical time needed, work sampling was utilized. It has been found out that the company cannot keep up with the projected production run and failed to produce forty (40) metric tons per hour. From the present methods, proposed methods were made by the researchers to solve the existing problems in the company resulting to less downtime savings, increase the efficiency of the plant and the operator, and increase their productivity per unit of time.