Assessment on the Operation and Strategy amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic: Case of National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR)

: The Covid-19 pandemic brought enormous challenges in the business operations of the world. With these, the National Power Corporation (NPC) range of services around the Philippine archipelago faced enormous challenges. In this study, the assessment of the strategy in the operations of the National Power Corporation (NPC) to the procurement division of the institution was considered. To discuss the result of this study, a descriptive research was used. The respondents were chosen using random sampling technique. The respondents typically carried the title of Division Manager, Engineer I, Engineer II, Admin Services, Information Assistant, and Logistics Management Officer. The survey questionnaires measure the capability and support of the company considering the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The survey questionnaires were encoded and distributed electronically using Google Forms. In addition to this, follow-up interviews were also made to the randomly selected employees and clientele of the Procurement Division of the NPC. After conducting survey and follow-up interviews, the results clearly shows that it is possible for the key personnel of the Procurement Division to conduct, continue, and deliver its mandates, functions, duties and responsibilities using an alternative work arrangement such as a work-from-home scheme and it made the department operational. The findings on the support of the company also show positive results. It indicates that the company’s strategy during the pandemic is noticeable and well-implemented. The new structure developed by the company according to the respondents can also be used even after the pandemic.


INTRODUCTION
National Power Corporation (NPC) a government-ownedand controlled corporation mandated to energize far flung, off-grid areas and islands in the Philippines. The NPC currently operating 275 Small Power Utilities Group (SPG) plants in 238 areas in 198 municipalities acres the 34 provinces of the Philippines. Additionally, to the SPG Plant the NPC likewise operate the power assets such as the 981 MW Agus and Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plants in Mindanao (www.napocor.gov.ph).
The novel coronavirus disease, also referred to as COVID-19, was first identified in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, which is in the Hubei province of China. Within a short time, the COVID-19 epidemic spread throughout the globe, becoming a true pandemic that has severely affected almost every country (Wagner, 2020). COVID19 pandemic brought enormous challenges in the business operations of the world. However, people were able to re-think and reanalyze the strategic tools and responds to the need of business/ establishments/ institutions. With these, the National Power Corporation (NPC) range of services around the Philippine archipelago faced enormous challenges. Nonetheless, the NPC were able to re-evaluate and formulate strategies and implementation in short term and long-term solution for the new normal operations. Hence, this this study, particularly focus on assessment of the strategy in the operations of the National Power Corporation (NPC) to the procurement division of the institution.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The general objective of the study was to assessed operation and strategy in the procurement division of the National Power Corporation (NPC) in response with the COVID -19 pandemic. The following specific objectives: Specific objectives 1. To determine a simple demographic profile of the respondents. 2. To determine the capability of the key employees from procurement to function in their respective duties and responsibilities in new normal situation. 3. To determine the effectiveness of the strategy developed in the operation of the procurement division into the delivery of its functions.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY Conceptual Framework
A descriptive research study was used to discuss the results of this study. In Figure ## shows the conceptual framework of the study. Initial sets of questions were prepared in order to attain the main of objective of the study to assess the operation and strategy of National Power Corporation particularly in the Procurement Division. The questionnaire were encoded and distributed electronically using the Google Forms. Additionally, an interview were made to follow-up questions to the randomly employees and clientele of the Procurement Division of NPC. The lists of questionnaires show in Annex.

Sample
The data used in this study were obtained from a survey conducted on some employees of the National Power Corporation, specifically under the Procurement Unit.

Questionnaire Survey
The survey questionnaire used in this study was based on the current situation, where we are under the situation of the pandemic due to the Covid-19. The survey was conducted online and the questionnaire was accompanied by a statement indicating the purpose of the study and assurance of the complete confidentiality of the respondents. Additionally, to encourage participation, the respondents were promised that the responses will be compiled together and analyzed as a group. The respondents typically carried the title of Division Manager, Engineer I, Engineer II, Admin Services, Information Assistant, and Logistics Management Officer.
The survey questionnaire specifically measures the following: a. Measures for the capability of the company. The capability of the company to work under high absenteeism of workers was measured. Also, the capability of the company or concerned unit to perform under a remote working scheme was measured, in relation to the current situation caused by the Covid-19. b. Measures for the support of the company. In order for the employees to perform their duties efficiently and for the department to perform its tasks, there must be support coming from the company. This is the reason why there is a need to measure if the company is providing necessary support to its employees especially in this time of the pandemic.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The conducted survey will determine the measures implemented by the company in relation to the pandemic caused by the Covid-19, the strategies implemented by the company in order to support its employees and to continue the delivery of its services. Tables 1, 2, and 3 will show the profile of the respondents. Coordination and cooperation to the National Power Corporation (NPC)   The results clearly show that the department can function and operate even with a high percentage of absenteeism and it indicates that employees can perform their functions working remotely. The results also show that an alternative work arrangement such as a work-from-home scheme will make the department operational. A remarkable high percentage of 90.90% shows that the employees of the department are well-trained, such that they can even perform other tasks not related to their specific duties. But when it comes to long-term remote working, 54.50% of the respondents said that the department can't function effectively through long-term remote working. 13. Does the newly developed structure for the operation of the company can also be used even after the pandemic? 90.90% 9.10% The findings on the support of the company also show positive results. It indicates that the company's strategy during the pandemic is noticeable and well-implemented. The results show that the company first disseminated a memorandum for the new model or alternative work arrangements in relation to the current situation, the pandemic caused by the Covid-19. The welfare of the employees is the one being considered by the company. With the new setting for work being developed, the company assured that the procedures are simpler and easier for the employees and customers, making it possible to work remotely.
To ensure that the employees can perform their duties well through the new work arrangement, 54.50% of the respondents said that the company provided them training on the applications of the digital platform. Since most of the transactions will be entertained online, the management also improved the internet connectivity or the IT system of the company capable of handling multiple transactions. Even though the management was not able to provide additional support such as internet allowance for employees working from home, the management ensures the safety of the employees working at the office by providing support such as traveling allowance and service vehicles. There is also an existing risk reduction management team that helps mitigate the possible risks within the company. Lastly, the new structure developed by the company according to the respondents can also be used even after the pandemic.

CONCLUSION
This research aimed to determine the measures implemented by the corporation in relation to the administrative support services workforce as a strategy in the pandemic caused by the Covid-19. To provide administrative and technical support in the proponent processing of the requirements of the corporation. Based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of intention in response to the survey questionnaire how it is can be concluded that implementation of a skeletal/work-from-home scheme is a possible and effective process. The results indicate that proponent personnel is more receptive to continue to provide procurement process by the use of technology and other logistics methodology while there are limitations on the operation of its decision.
Based on the results of the survey questionnaire, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. It is possible and doable for the key personnel of the procurement division, Logistics Department to conduct, continue and deliver its mandates, functions, duties, and responsibilities on the procurement process by other alternatives workforce schedule under the new normal with this Covid-19 pandemic. 2. The effectiveness of the strategy developed in the operations of the division was manifested by the results of their outputs. 3. The impact on the delivery of services as a result of this research can be determined also on the individual personnel key result areas vis-a-vis key performance indicators on the actual versus targets work plan of the division.