This study assessed the level of optimization of turnaround time (TAT) among the Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (TB DOTS) team and explored the treatment-compliance experiences of confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in the Rural Health Unit of Sagñay, Camarines Sur. A concurrent parallel mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative survey data were obtained from 40 confirmed PTB patients, eight of whom were purposively selected for semi-structured interviews, while six TB DOTS team members participated in a focus group discussion. Quantitative data were summarized using weighted and average means, whereas interview and focus-group data were examined through content and thematic analysis and integrated with the quantitative findings. The TB DOTS team demonstrated a very high overall level of TAT optimization (M = 4.29), with screening (M = 4.24), diagnostics (M = 4.27), treatment initiation (M = 4.31), and follow-up (M = 4.36) all rated very high. Important service gaps nevertheless emerged in timely communication of diagnostic results (M = 2.63, Moderate), treatment initiation within five working days of sputum collection (M = 3.85, High), and attendance at scheduled follow-up visits (M = 3.65, High). Patients described symptom recognition, transportation and financial barriers, prolonged waiting for diagnostic results, treatment side effects, and family or healthcare-worker support as central to adherence. Staff identified awareness, knowledge of diagnostic TAT, and appropriate communication as facilitators, while distance and limited schedules, insufficient staffing, and inadequate budget were hindering factors. These findings informed the proposed REACH TB Project, a patient-centered program designed to strengthen decentralized specimen transport, community outreach, adherence support, and sustainable financing. The study concludes that RHU-Sagñay has a strongly functioning TB DOTS system, but targeted improvements in result communication, logistical access, staffing, and follow-up are needed to make timely TB care more consistent and sustainable.
Nuryadin Ali Mustofa, Agus Pahrudin, Ahmad Fauzan, Laila Maharani
This study examined global research trends in the digital transformation of educational finance and school management through a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in the Scopus database from 2016 to 2025. Data were collected from the Scopus database on April 14, 2026, using a structured TITLE-ABS-KEY search query. The search initially identified 1,059 documents, which were refined to 162 relevant publications through PRISMA-based inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bibliometric mapping and performance analyses were conducted using Biblioshiny (R) and VOSviewer, supported by data cleaning and standardization through OpenRefine and a thesaurus file. The results showed a significant increase in global research output on digital transformation in educational finance and school management, particularly after 2020. This trend reflects growing scholarly and institutional attention to the role of digital technologies in educational governance and financial administration. Conference proceedings remained the dominant publication source, while journal publications continued to grow. China emerged as the leading contributor, supported by strong institutional productivity and collaboration networks. Thematic analysis identified major research clusters in financial management, information systems, data-driven decision-making, artificial intelligence, e-learning, and educational technology. Recent studies also emphasized sustainability, economic analysis, blockchain, and decentralized finance. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive global research map and offering policy insights to advance technology-driven, sustainable educational management practices.
Charry Mae Grepon, Eloiza Tagarda, Maricel Ugat, Ray Butch Mahinay · 6 authors
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) plays a critical role in expanding access to education for out-of-school youth and adults in the Philippines. However, persistent governance and financing constraints continue to challenge the program’s capacity to deliver equitable learning opportunities. This study examines ALS financing within the context of the 2026 EDCOM II reform to understand how national and local funding mechanisms are structured to support program equity and implementation. The study employed a qualitative policy analysis using document review of official policy reports, fiscal allocations, and reform frameworks related to ALS financing. This study does not evaluate implementation outcomes, learner-level effects, or empirically observed program impacts, and is limited to policy-documentary analysis of financing structures and reform intent. Key sources included the FY 2026 proposed national ALS budget, formal EDCOM II reform documents, DEPED-DBM-DILG Joint Circular No. 1 (s. 2025) on the Special Education Fund (SEF), and related governance issues. A results-chain conceptual model was used to analyze the expected and policy derived relationships between financing inputs, intended program outcomes as reflected in policy logic, rather than empirically validated effects. The documentary analysis suggests that a significant portion of the ALS budget is allocated to direct learner subsidies, reflecting a learner-centered and equity-oriented financing design. Policy reforms under EDCOM II also introduce governance and financing mechanisms, such as decentralization, dedicated ALS budget lines, and SEF co-financing, designed to support more equitable resource allocation. However, persistent bottlenecks, including infrastructure gaps, uneven regional access, and service-delivery capacity constraints, may constrain implementation effectiveness. The study concludes that coordinated national and local financing mechanisms may provide enabling conditions for strengthening ALS implementation. Integrating Program Support Funds and SEF allocations may support more responsive resource distribution and locally responsive service delivery. The findings provide policy-documentary analysis that may inform ALS financing reforms and future efforts toward more equitable resource allocation.