Have you ever reached the point wherein sometimes a random thought will pop up in your mind asking, "What if our society does not have people who act as leaders? Will our lives be much better or much worse?"
Looking back to the prehistoric era when the concept of society was just being created, there was already a power system and informal governance established in a certain community. As the tribes back then needed to have an organized system and distribution of social function, some people held the responsibility to lead. As time went by, the concept of leadership and politics improved; that is why we practiced having it until this modern era. As the Philippines is a democratic country, citizens are free to become leaders if they meet the qualifications like being a natural-born citizen of the country, a registered voter, literate, etc. All they need to do is to comply, think of concrete platforms or plans, and knock on every person's heart as they persuade them with their intention to help for the betterment of the community. Admit it or not, a society without leaders will create chaos. That is why it is essential that we see a ruler and a true advocate in the role of holding power. The citizens in the country also have the ability and right to choose or vote for the leaders they want in a particular position. The freedom people have in voting must be adequately exercised as people are giving those aspiring leaders extra power to control, rule, and govern the community. People must never forget that they need to choose wisely to whom they will give their trust because the leaders they will select will be the ones who will influence the whole community. If they have the urge to initiate empowerment, they can also effectively affect others to become empowered.
In my last blog, we see how ordinary citizens have the liberty to express their thoughts about the issues they observe in the community. With the help of the eight (8) members of the community of the City of Meycauayan, we identified the main problems that they observed to be the most issue in the City. If we go back to the results last time, the top concern that the people in the chosen community want to address is related to the environment and waste disposal issue. They include here the problem they see about garbage management, noise issues made by other residents or industry, cleanliness of the streets/surrounding areas, and the misspent funds in public ways, suggesting to focus on the rehabilitation of the Meycauayan River. But, what if we also ask the people who hold a position in the community? Is there any possibility that they also view or observe issues the same as the citizen's concerns?
This blog discusses the issues or problems that local officials in the City of Meycauayan want to resolve or address. This blog allows elected officials to be involved with conveying the issues they personally observe as they are also part of the community and have the power to contribute to and lessen the problem that society is facing. The presented data and information that can be seen here in the blog came from the survey conducted and answered by two (2) local officials of the Meycauayan community: one respondent holds the position of a City Councilor. At the same time, the other is at the role of the Barangay Councilor in Barangay Calvario. The questions asked in the last blog to the citizens of the chosen community are also the same set of questions given to the local officials. However, for them to elaborate and explain the issue, there is an additional question: "Why do you think it's still a problem in your community?" The author of the blog will interpret the answers given by the respondents. At the end of the blog, expect that there will be a conclusion that tackles the relationship between the results from the last blog and the latest blog.
RESPONDENT 1
Table 1 shows the age, gender, educational attainment, and profession of respondent 1.
As for the questions, what is/are the issues/problems they want to address and why did they think it is still a problem in the community; she said in verbatim answer:
"Being a City Councilor and OIC-College Administrator of our local college, I still stand that education issue should still be given more priorities, from kindergarten to collegiate level. Currently, majority of the students are privileged to be part of the free higher education and scholarships granted by both from government and private sectors, but still, concerns on additional funding that all the youth of City of Meycauayan may benefit and be part of the changes and improvement. The number of Out of School Youth, teenage pregnancy, cases of delinquent youth should be prioritized."
"This is a city-wide concern that should be addressed, there are projects to decrease the number of OSY, teenage pregnancy and delinquent youth. Proper coordination, strict implementation and additional funding will be of big help to address the issue. I stand that the things we prepare for the next generation is the key for the progress of the community."
GIVING HOPE TO THE PEOPLE WE CALL "PAG-ASA NG BAYAN"
The concern of respondent 1 is all about the issues related to the youth, specifically about the number of Out of School Youth, teenage pregnancy, and cases of delinquent youth in Meycauayan City. In her answer, she stated that she is an Officer in Charge in the College Administration in the City's local college. Obviously, as a City Councilor in charge of the education field, she has enough knowledge and information about the state of schools and the education system in the chosen community. As we all know, these social issues are also related when it comes to education. That is why she is also aware of the problems present for the young people in the community she is serving. It is the right of every citizen to attain education as it is part of our socio-economic rights. However, many factors serve as barricades to the freedom of youth to have an education. Poverty is one of the main reasons why young people are not attending school. With their goal to gain money to help their family, they are just choosing to work and not pursue finishing education. This factor also causes why there is delinquent youth. With a lack of finances and education, they are already engaging in wrong activities that sometimes lead to criminal acts. This is why the number of Out of School and delinquent youth have become an issue in the City. When it comes to the system and quality of education in every school in the community, there is still a lack of teachings in some manner. An example is the proper and correct teaching of sex education. The lack of discussion about this is becoming a top factor why teenage pregnancies are present in the community.
With the said city-wide concern, the respondent also shares her insight on how this may be gradually resolved. She said that if there is proper coordination, strict implementation, and additional funding, these issues can be addressed. Prioritizing to solve the stated problems can strongly allow all the youth to receive proper education and a better life.
RESPONDENT 2
Table 2 shows the age, gender, educational attainment, and profession of respondent 2.
As for the questions, what is/are the issues/problems they want to address, and why did they think it is still a problem in the community; he said in a non-verbatim answer.
"One of the issues in our country is the government hospital."
"It is still a problem because all citizens in Meycauayan are looking forward to seeing a government hospital in the City."
WHERE CAN THE SICK MEYCAUEÑOS GO?
The concern of respondent 2 is all about the lack of government or public hospitals in the City of Meycauayan. One of the socio-economic rights of an individual is access or right to health care, and this concern is really an important issue that needs to be talked about. The only hospitals in the community are the private ones. We cannot change the fact that there are people who cannot afford the cost or bills in private hospitals because it has more charges or fees for the doctors, technologies, facilities, and other stuff. People who suffer from poverty and cannot go to private hospitals are sacrificing to survive by finding a public hospital near Meycauayan. One of the public hospitals that people usually go to is the Bulacan Medical Center, also known as Bulacan Provincial Hospital. The distance between Meycauayan and Malolos is said to be 23 kilometers by road. Observing how far the distance is, the implication can be dangerous if people choose to go there, especially in emergency cases. It may sometimes lead to unfortunate events like death or health aggravation.
Last 2013, a public hospital was established in the City of Meycauayan named Meycauayan General Hospital. However, it is still not open to the public due to its location and lack of equipment needed in the hospital. The hospital area is said to be not accessible and near the Meycauayan River, which is one of the most populated rivers in the Philippines and globally. Also, the building is already weak as it has many cracks on the wall that can be an implication of the establishment's vulnerability. With all of the reasons it is still not officially open, it is like the hospital is worthless. It is a really great use for the people in the City if it is well-planned.
Watch here: Investigative Documentaries: Meycauayan General Hospital, tatlong taon nang hindi napapakinabangan. https://youtu.be/-GsS-qDSbBE
In this issue, people are looking forward to the City of Meycauayan having a public hospital with fewer worries about where to go in times of sickness. They said health is wealth for a person's life; therefore, the government should take action to take care of their citizens as they are the community's lifeblood and wealth.
Comparing the result of Blog #1 and this blog, the answers that both respondents stated fall into the poverty and social issues, and the health field which both got 14.3% as a result of the last blog. Even though it is not the same as the top problem resulting from the previous survey, it still shows that there are really other issues that need to be addressed and prioritized. Observing the vast number of the problems in the community, we can consider that it is on the citizen's minds what they think is the issue that needs to be listed in the priority bucket. This blog entitled "MeycaueKNOW: Knowing the Community Issues in Meycauayan, Bulacan" shows that even though people in the community, whether ordinary or people with political power, have different opinions and perceptions, there is the only thing that they both have. That is being conscious and mindful of the happenings in our community. When every individual is concerned and open to cooperating, it will be easier to address and resolve all the problems surely but slowly.
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