ABSTRACT
This study investigates the implementation of Project We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty (W.A.T.C.H.) at Legazpi City's Department of Education (DepEd) public schools. It studies prevalent habits, identifies problems, and suggests a strategy for long-term viability. Recognizing the importance of punctuality and honesty for personal and professional growth, the research underlines the need to instill these values in early childhood education. While active, Project W.A.T.C.H. suffers challenges owing to resource constraints, organizational problems, insufficient training, and insufficient monitoring and evaluation. The paper reviews practices and recommends a sustainable plan to solve these concerns using thematic and content analysis.
The findings emphasize Legazpi City schools' attempts to improve time awareness and honesty, while flagging resource restrictions and organizational concerns as obstacles. The research underlines the significance of smart financial management, defined duties, regular training, and periodic assessments to ensure Project W.A.T.C.H.'s long-term success.
This research adds to the body of data in the field of values-based programs, character development, and positive behavior support. It is presented as a practical guide with tangible answers, and it provides insights into overcoming problems and ensuring the long-term success of Project W.A.T.C.H. in Legazpi City public schools. The research finishes with proactive recommendations for preserving and strengthening divisional practices.
Keywords: Project W.A.T.C.H., implementation, common practices, challenges, sustainability plan
INTRODUCTION
Honesty and promptness are essential qualities in the workplace and school. Developing and applying these traits allow positive progression among individuals in both settings.
At school, honesty is one of the most essential characteristics to instill in learners. This can be done by demonstrating honesty, establishing honesty-related expectations, and providing opportunities for honest discussion and reflection. Punctuality in school life paves the way for students’ success by allowing them to plan, create an efficient routine, and be prepared for their assignments. A punctual student is better prepared to deal with day-to-day work than someone who waits until the last minute (Podar Education Network, 2021).
On the other hand, punctuality demonstrates professionalism and distinguishes one as a dependable and competent employee. It makes no difference how brilliant, skilled, or knowledgeable an employee is. Being consistently late, whether to work or on deadlines, risks tarnishing one's professional reputation. It is not civility; it is a requirement at work. Punctuality exhibits one’s commitment to his job (Nuque, n.d.). In the workplace, being honest is also essential for developing trust, upholding moral principles, encouraging transparency, supporting open communication, encouraging accountability, boosting productivity, developing a positive reputation, and assisting in effective conflict resolution. It produces an office atmosphere that promotes achievement, teamwork, and the general well-being of workers and the company as a whole.
The development of people, organizations, and communities depends on effective time management and an ethical approach to honesty. In educational environments, imparting these principles early on helps students develop their character and gives them the skills they need for both their personal and professional lives.
Recognizing the importance of these principles, the Philippine Government has started rolling out Project We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty (W.A.T.C.H.) throughout its various agencies. This is an advocacy program of the Philippine Government as mandated through Proclamation No. 1782, signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the City of Manila, dated May 21, 2009. The major goal of Project W.A.T.C.H. is to push forward the recognition of punctuality and honesty as two core values in promoting national renewal and development.
The Department of Education (DepEd), an enjoining party in this proclamation, mandates each public school nationwide to implement Project W.A.T.C.H. to observe the values of punctuality and honesty among the school personnel and the students. The DepEd Memorandum No. 410 series of 2019 titled, Guidelines on the Establishment of a W.A.T.C.H. School, was released to formally implement the program in the Philippine public schools. This aims for the school community to know and understand the value of punctuality in the context of the development of a better Filipino character, to cherish and value punctuality as an integral part of a true Filipino, and to identify concrete strategies that will assist an individual in the actualization of the value of punctuality and honesty in one’s life.
Schools are vital institutions in a community. Their mere existence, even more, its success, and efficiency are important facets for achieving the ideals of the locale. The Department of Education Schools Division of Legazpi City public schools are active participants in this project. Activities in line with the project are being conducted yearly. There are also year-round initiatives being observed. Therefore, the potential improvement of Project W.A.T.C.H. implementation through this study has a consequential positive effect on the community. The promotion of the values of punctuality and honesty may also manifest beyond the scope of the school and its neighboring areas. Moreover, punctuality and honesty have always been core values taught at schools. As primary or integrated content, these are recognized as important values for all sectors of society. Conducting this study is deemed to strengthen the aims of Project W.A.T.C.H., which would positively benefit the education sector. Avoiding late comings for learners would help them maximize their learning at school. From another perspective, teachers who are on time would get more time to prepare themselves before facing their learners and avoid procrastination.
Despite the aforementioned public schools’ adherence efforts, latecomers among the school personnel and the students are still noted. Surely, certain factors are causing this observation. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the implementation of the project in the public schools.
The study centers on the delineation of project implementation for possible replication relative to the formulation of a sustainability plan. A sustainability plan is a strategic framework or roadmap that describes how a community or organization intends to advance environmental stewardship and sustainable development. It acts as a road map that outlines objectives, targets, and procedures for advancing long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability. A sustainability plan adopts a long-term viewpoint, taking into account the project's lifecycle and effects beyond adoption. It nudges project managers to think past short-term objectives and take the project's legacy into account. The long-term planning aspect of the plan assures that the project will continue to succeed and be sustainable even after the implementation phase is through. According to the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (2018), practitioners from the private and public sectors tasked with implementing development projects and programs must be able to implement projects effectively.
Connectively, for several reasons, it is vital to identify the challenges to project implementation. Assessing potential risks that can occur during project implementation is made easier by identifying difficulties. Project managers can effectively manage risks by developing appropriate risk management methods by having a clear awareness of the difficulties upfront. The project's chances of success are increased, and negative effects are reduced thanks to this proactive strategy. In addition, project implementation difficulties may have an impact on material, financial, and human resources. Early detection of these issues allows project managers to deploy resources appropriately, ensuring that there are enough resources on hand to overcome hurdles and maintain the project's course. Furthermore, identifying project execution difficulties offers a chance for education and ongoing development. Project managers can find patterns, create best practices, and apply lessons gained to future projects by investigating past difficulties and their causes. This method of project management is iterative and improves organizational knowledge, effectiveness, and efficiency (Ranjan et al., 2016).
In this study’s case, an in-depth depiction of the common practices and the challenges the schools encounter in implementing the project was done to determine specific steps for its improvement. The practices observed by the teachers, students, and nonteaching personnel of the target public schools in the city are focused on by the present research. The sustainability plan devised is proposed in line with this objective.
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