The Challenges and Lived Experiences of the Barangay Tanods: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study in the Philippines During COVID-19 Pandemic

Barangay tanods are not exempted from the risk of the COVID-19 due to being exposed to public areas. Aside from health risks, these front liners are also a mistreatment subject from violators. Thus, this study is conducted during the pandemic and gathered data through a phone interview. It is conducted to explore the lived experiences of Barangay Tanods and how they adjusted to the drastic change in the work environment, health risk exposure to COVID-19, and the threat of danger caused by different factors during community quarantine. It also determines the specific challenges in the work environment and the changes in policing strategies, and how they cope. Lastly, it aims to map out how these experiences and impacts will improve preparations and the development of policing strategies in future crises. Moreover, three major conclusions emerge from this study's findings: (1) Barangay tanods faced difficulties in the sudden shift of their work environment (2) Most of the barangay tanods received incentives from the government to supply their health and sanitary needs (3) Barangay tanods reflected on their experiences to further improve as public servants and to be prepared for future crisis.