Application of Operations Research in Solving COVID-19 Related Problems in Select Communities in the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in the healthcare system, social services, and governance of the Philippines. The national response has been either slow or inadequate. Although current resources are plenty, they are not properly allocated by those in charge. This study used operations research methods to address ongoing problems such as lack of healthcare workers, testing centers and accommodation for COVID-19 patients, distribution of relief packages and financial assistance, the transport system of frontliners, and malnutrition. The resulting optimization models showed improved or more efficient ways of approaching the difficulties that Filipinos currently face. Assignment models showed optimal solutions in which: medical personnel from COVID-free provinces can be sent to the nearest hospitals in areas that lack manpower, a proposed partnership of accreditation teams that can take the shortest trips going to Stage 3 test laboratories in NCR, and each barangay in Parañaque City can be assigned to the closest hospital. The Minimum Spanning Tree optimized: shuttle service routes for workers in Decena General Hospital located in Pangasinan and delivery route of Taguig City's relief truck. Linear Programming models found a better way of distributing cash subsidies to Parañaque households who are in most need and revealed that food packs provided during Tondo District 1's lockdown are insufficient to meet the nutrient needs of an average family.