GOING AFTER THE MACHOS: LIFE WORLD OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION DESK (WCPD) CHIEFS, FIRST DISTRICT, BOHOL PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES

This study explored the life world of Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) chiefs. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following: the positive and negative experiences, addressing the challenges encountered, and the aspirations of the informants. The findings of this study served as supplementary guidelines to improve the performance of their duties and the quality of their services. This study is a qualitative type of research using the phenomenological approach. This inquiry utilized ten (10) selected WCPD chiefs in the first district of Bohol Province. The informants were all interviewed individually using a validated interview guide with open-ended questions prepared by the researcher. Colaizzi’s thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The study generated eight (8) emergent themes. The informants' experiences consisted of two (2) themes for the positive experiences and two (2) themes for the negative experiences. The themes formulated for the positive experiences were Justice Served and United as One. In the negative experiences, the following themes were created: The Shadow of Doubt and The Broken Support System. How they addressed the challenges created two (2) themes: Rising Above and Beyond and Empowering Connections. The aspiration of the informants created two (2) themes: Fostering Growth and Fortifying a Protective Shield. The researcher recommends a qualitative study on the life world of the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) chiefs to enhance the performance of their duties and the quality of their services.