294 Open Access Indonesia Journal of Social Sciences Vol 4 Issue 2 2021 Exploring Instructional Competencies Of Mindanao State University-Sulu Teachers In The Age Of Covid-19 Pandemic Allen I. Talikan Faculty, Mindanao State University-Sulu 7400, Jolo, Sulu, Philippines A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords: Instructional competencies instructional strategies alternative learning delivery methods COVID-19 pandemic printed modules *Corresponding author: Allen I. Talikan E-mail address: lenntalikan@gmail.com All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. https://doi.org/10.37275/OAIJSS.v4i2.54 A B S T R A C T This study investigated the instructional competencies of teachers in Mindanao State University-Sulu in the transition to alternative learning delivery methods in the age of COVID-19 pandemic. The descriptive survey method was used in this study. The researcher used two sets of standardized questionnaires to obtain the necessary data including the respondents’ profiles. The profile of the teacher-respondents was determined using frequency count and percentage. Mean was used to analyze research questions. T-test for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to test the stated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The following were the highlights of the study: (1) The common alternative learning delivery methods used by teachers were modules, Facebook and Messenger; (2) The common instructional strategies of teachers were using Messenger for sending additional instructions of the lessons and other activities; entertaining questions from students through phone calls and text messages; and distributing printed module to students; (3) The level of instructional competencies of teachers is satisfactory; (4) There is no significant difference on teachers’ instructional strategies when they are classified according to their profile; (5) There is no significant difference on the level of teachers’ instructional competencies when they are classified according to gender and the college or high school where they teach; and (6) There is a significant difference on the level of teachers’ instructional competencies when they are classified according age. The study recommended that the school administration should conduct intervention programs and policies on improving teachers’ competencies especially in times of pandemic. 1. Introduction The advent of deadly corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the Philippines has caused a dramatic impact on the country’s educational system. This impact is observed on the postponement of the usual opening of classes in June to October and on the cancellation of face-to-face classes across the country. Relative to this, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) have strategized and implemented programs that would lead to the resumption of classes without jeopardizing the health and safety of the students and of the school employees. Such program is the alternative learning delivery methods which implies the use of modular learning approach, online classes, multimedia viewing and other modalities of learning. However, to fully implement these methods, there is a need to consider the teaching competencies of teachers particularly during this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring their instructional competencies is vital in a sense that it affects the academic learning of the students. Competencies are the skills and knowledge that enable a teacher to be successful. To maximize student learning, teachers must have expertise in a wide-ranging array of competencies in an especially Open Access Indonesia Journal of Social Sciences http://journalsocialsciences.com/index.php/OAIJSS