Assessment of the Use of Digital Technologies by the Overseas Filipino Workers on Coping Up With The Global Pandemic

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Assessment of the Use of Digital Technologies by the Overseas Filipino Workers on Coping Up With The Global Pandemic

Crizyl R. Deputado¹, Irene T. Yata², Mark Van M. Buladaco^3
1,2Student, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Jose Maria College
³Dean, Institute of Computing, Davao del Norte State College

Abstract- The global pandemic has affected the Overseas Filipino Workers across the world. Digital technologies have paved way on coping up with the difficulties in the new normal. The study aimed to determine the significant difference in the use of digital technologies by the Overseas Filipino Workers in coping up with the global pandemic. The study used a descriptive research design and used non-probability sampling techniques specifically quota sampling. An adaptive research questionnaire and 55 OFWs answered the survey. Result revealed that majority of the respondents are female, 18 years old to 30 years old, and working for 1 to 10 years as OFW. Further, the confirmed that the level of the OFW in Dubai often use digital technology all the time to cope with the pandemic. The study concluded that there is no significant difference in the use digital technology all the time to cope with the pandemic when analysed according to gender, age, and year of experience. This study suggested the government specifically the POEA and OWWA to conduct trainings and workshops in the use of digital technology. This program will help enhance the digital competence of the OFWs specially in the use of digital technologies most especially in coping up with the pandemic.

Keywords: Digital Technology, OFW, COVID- 19, Quantitative Research, Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The global pandemic have affected the Overseas Filipino Workers across the world. Digital technologies have paved way on coping up with the difficulties in the new normal. Recently, more or less there are 2.3 million Overseas Filipino Workers working across the globe and being considered as the largest transnational labor migrant populations in the world (Liem, Garabiles, Pakingan, Chen, Lam, Burchert, & Hall, 2020). The OFWs are looking for different ways in order to communicate with their family since communicating with them becomes a challenge. When the modern technology comes to the line, it attempts to bridge OFWs from their families and help to improve their quality of life (Ocenar & Sabio, 2014).
When COVID-19 hits the world, there are a lot of sectors that are being affected. During this outbreak, there is a severe impact in the world of work especially in the global economic and labor market (International Labour Organization, 2020). When this worst scenario happens,

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