(PNP) under the Highway Patrol Group of Ilocos Norte. It aimed to determine the challenges encountered by female police
officers, including the effects and the coping mechanisms to overcome these challenges associated with their role.
This qualitative research method utilized the descriptive case study where personal and online interviews were
conducted with three (3) participants working at the Philippine Highway Patrol Team of Laoag City, Abra and Ilocos Sur.
Purposive sampling method was used in choosing the participants of the study.
Findings showed that the participants of the study encountered challenges in the Highway Patrol Group as revealed
in their answers to questions that revolved around nine (9) themes: (a) challenges encountered by women in the PNP
Highway Patrol Group, (b) effects of the challenges faced in their job performance and (c) coping mechanisms used to
overcome the challenges encountered. Themes that emerged based on these questions are: “shortlisted recruitment
opportunity,” “financial inadequacy,” “doubt in competence,” “feeling of discouragement,” “burnout,” “destruction of
family connection,” “self-growth,” “coping through faith,” and “mind over body.” On the bases of the data gathered and
analyzed, this study revealed that the challenges experienced by women in the Highway Patrol Group include not only
organizational challenges but also personal problems which both positively and negatively affect their life and job
performances. Moreover, after experiencing these challenges, it was revealed that the participants resorted to practices of
spirituality through faith by praying as a way to deal with feelings of anxiety, stress and exhaustion. Also, they focused on
thoughts of mind rather than the body to cope or manage challenges and help them to do more than they are capable of
