Chosen Community: Barangay Mulawin - Francisco Homes, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan
Last week, we focused our limelight on the people of the community; allowing them to share their insights and observations regarding the current issues and problems that the barangay is facing.
To sum it all up, the answers we received were focused on the aspect of cleanliness, health and safety, and the state of leadership in the community. But just like the saying goes, it always takes two to tango.
After hearing what's the call of the people is, it is time to get the important sides and views of the local government among the current concerns in Barangay Mulawin. So for this week's blog, we will get to know the stories and the headlines that should be addressed in the eyes of the community's leaders themselves: Barangay Captain Henson Paul Hayo, and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) Chairman Manuel B. Rellama Jr.
After a series of trials and rejected meetings due to his very tight schedule, I was given the chance to have a face-to-face interview with Brgy. Mulawin's Brgy. Captain Hon. Henson Paul Hayo last Saturday, April 02. We then had a very short but meaty conversation regarding the current concerns that our barangay has.
With Bulacan staying under Alert level 1 until April 15, things are starting to get back to normal. One clear indication of that is the reopening of limited face-to-face classes in the Mulawin National High School. Moreover, it had been almost two months since the last reported active COVID-19 case in the Barangay. Though it is a welcoming sight to see as we enter the second quarter of the year, Barangay Captain Paul Hayo continues to stress that this fight against the virus is far from over. It was the focal point of the observations he gave me during our interview, that many tend to lose sight that the threat of a resurgence of the virus is still there and with the National elections being held next month, this could very well be the case if the set standards are not followed according to him.
“Noong lumawag-luwag, nawalan ng kontrol ang mga tao. Inom magdamag dito. Videoke diyan.”
In addition to that, he emphasized that the barangay and its people should still comply with the minimum public health standard to not just maintain but secure a virus-free community.
“Saan ba tayo nagsimula? Diba sa isang kaso lang din?”
The virus may not be active but its effects and the challenges it caused still stings up to this point in time. The later part of Hon. Hayo’s address was focused on the looming aspect of livelihood in the barangay.
“Actually dahil pandemic pa rin nga, ang isa sa pinaka concern namin ngayon is the number of unemployed individuals sa ating barangay. Talagang maraming nawalan.” he uttered.
According to him, Mulawin’s Barangay Technical Employment Committee (BTEC) continues to coordinate with the City’s Public Employment Service Office to provide opportunities and jobs that will be beneficial for its citizens.
“Patuloy tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa PESO para magawa nating maibaba sa mga kabarangay natin na naghahanap po ng trabaho and from there doon nila makikita saan sila pinaka-suit.”
I was also lucky enough to get the side of Manuel B. Rellama Jr, the current SK Chairman of Barangay Mulawin, regarding the matter at hand.
As I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Sir Rellama through a Messenger chat, he highlighted that the concern in implementing guidelines on the health and safety regulations of the barangay is still at the top of their list. We can see with this that he and Hon. Hayo shared the same sentiments. But on the flip side of the coin, he focused his side on the aspect of the number of people who are still not yet vaccinated.
In accordance with this, he added that in the early goings of this year many tend to overlook that there is still a curfew being enforced in the barangay. But with the restrictions being lifted now, he then put emphasis on following the strict conditions laid out by the barangay to ensure the safety of the people.
"Pangalawa, curfew. Kasi dati may mga pumapasok na hindi talaga taga-rito sa atin. Ngayon na solusyonan na rin naman yan kase may mga tanod na nagbabantay sa 'RC' at sa entrance ng barangay natin."
To cap it all up, he also shed some light on the ongoing issues regarding road construction and the lack of working streetlights in the barangay.
"Maraming streetlights ang hindi pa rin gumagana rito sa barangay natin."
"Huli, yong sa kalsada natin. Marami pa rin talagang sira-sirang kalsada sa atin. Tapos mataas pa tayong lugar at may mga makikitid tayong daan na hirap nga daanan kapag nagkakasabay sabay kaming mga motorista."
Conclusion:
There are always points that we can only get from the other side of the court.
This activity opened up my eyes that there are different point-of-views and stories that we can fetch among the community officials and its citizens. And all these are worthy of being heard and addressed.
From the citizen's call for a safer home and better leadership, this week's blog was centered around more on the challenges and hurdles the current pandemic presented to us: the stricter implementation of the minimum health and safety regulations, the number of vaccinated citizens and the condition of the families' livelihood.
Dissecting the issues raised and the concerns addressed by the citizens and the local officials, we can see that there is a gap that can only be resolved through discussions and cooperation of both. Discussions will lead to solutions and cooperation will lead to a more healthy community.
Comments