community service in barangay essay

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The impact of community service – a deep dive into the power of giving back to society.

Community service essays serve as a powerful tool for individuals to reflect on their experiences, values, and impact on the world around them. Through the process of writing about their volunteer work, students are able to articulate the positive changes they have made in their communities and explore the lessons they have learned along the way.

Community service essays also play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of giving back to society and fostering a sense of empathy and compassion in individuals. By sharing personal stories of service, students can inspire others to get involved and make a difference in their own communities.

Moreover, community service essays can help students gain valuable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving, as they reflect on the challenges and successes of their volunteer experiences. By documenting their service work, students can also showcase their commitment to social responsibility and community engagement to colleges, scholarship committees, and potential employers.

Why Community Service Essays Matter

In today’s society, the importance of community service essays cannot be overstated. These essays serve as a platform for individuals to showcase their dedication to helping others and making a positive impact on their communities. Through these essays, individuals can share their experiences, insights, and perspectives on the value of giving back to society.

Community service essays also play a crucial role in raising awareness about different social issues and encouraging others to get involved in volunteer work. By sharing personal stories and reflections, individuals can inspire and motivate others to take action and contribute to the betterment of society.

Furthermore, community service essays provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their own values, beliefs, and goals. Through the process of writing these essays, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, leading to personal growth and development.

In conclusion, community service essays matter because they have the power to inspire change, raise awareness, and promote personal growth. By sharing their stories and insights, individuals can make a difference in their communities and create a more compassionate and giving society.

The Impact of Community Service Essays

Community service essays have a profound impact on both the individuals writing them and the communities they serve. These essays serve as a platform for students to reflect on their experiences and articulate the lessons they have learned through their service work.

One of the primary impacts of community service essays is the opportunity for self-reflection. Students are encouraged to critically analyze their experiences, challenges, and accomplishments during their community service activities. This reflection helps students develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their values, and their role in the community.

Another significant impact of community service essays is the awareness they raise about social issues and community needs. By sharing their stories and insights, students can shed light on important issues and inspire others to get involved in community service. These essays can also help community organizations and stakeholders better understand the needs of their communities and how they can address them effectively.

Overall, community service essays play a vital role in promoting social responsibility, empathy, and civic engagement. They empower students to make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to creating a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Guidelines for Writing Community Service Essays

When writing a community service essay, it is important to follow certain guidelines to ensure that your message is clear and impactful. Here are some tips to help you craft a powerful and compelling essay:

• Start by brainstorming ideas and reflecting on your community service experiences.
• Clearly define the purpose of your essay and what you hope to convey to your readers.
• Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Use specific examples and anecdotes to support your points and showcase your personal growth.
• Highlight the impact of your community service activities on both yourself and others.
• Showcase your passion and dedication to serving your community.
• Be authentic and honest in your writing, and avoid exaggerating or embellishing your experiences.
• Edit and proofread your essay carefully to ensure clarity, coherence, and proper grammar.

Examples of Effective Community Service Essays

Community service essays can have a powerful impact on the reader when they are well-written and thoughtful. Here are a few examples to inspire you:

1. A Well-Structured Essay:

This essay begins with a compelling introduction that clearly articulates the author’s motivation for engaging in community service. The body paragraphs provide specific examples of the author’s experiences and the impact they had on both the community and themselves. The conclusion ties everything together, reflecting on the lessons learned and the importance of giving back.

2. Personal Reflection:

This essay delves deep into the author’s personal experiences during their community service work. It explores the challenges they faced, the emotions they encountered, and the growth they underwent. By sharing vulnerable moments and candid reflections, the author creates a connection with the reader and demonstrates the transformational power of service.

3. Future Goals and Impact:

This essay not only discusses past community service experiences but also looks toward the future. The author shares their aspirations for continued service and outlines how they plan to make a difference in the world. By showcasing a sense of purpose and vision, this essay inspires the reader to consider their own potential for impact.

These examples illustrate how community service essays can be effective tools for conveying meaningful stories, inspiring others, and showcasing personal growth. By crafting a compelling narrative and reflecting on the significance of service, you can create an essay that leaves a lasting impression.

How Community Service Essays Empower Individuals

Community service essays provide individuals with a platform to express their thoughts, share their experiences, and make a meaningful impact on society. By writing about their volunteer work and the lessons they have learned, individuals can empower themselves to create positive change and inspire others to do the same.

• Through community service essays, individuals can reflect on the importance of giving back to their communities and the value of helping those in need.
• These essays can serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for individuals to continue their philanthropic efforts and make a difference in the world.
• By sharing their stories through community service essays, individuals can raise awareness about social issues and promote greater empathy and understanding among their peers.

Overall, community service essays empower individuals to take action, advocate for change, and contribute to building a more compassionate and equitable society.

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Essays About Community Service: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

If you are looking for your next writing topic, discover top examples of essays about community service and helpful writing prompts in our guide.

Community service refers to an individual or a group’s volunteer work dedicated to improving the community and its people. In America, Benjamin Franklin introduced community service in the 18th century by developing the idea of ​​the first volunteer firehouse in Philadelphia . Since then, stepping up has become a norm, with more people encouraged to participate.

Volunteering helps individuals gain experience, improve self-esteem, expand knowledge, and promote healthy goals. In addition, choosing community service as a topic in your essay allows you to explain its significance to entice your readers to get involved. To give you an idea of ​​how to write essays about community service, here are five examples that will help you.

5 Top Examples On Essays About Community Service

1. essay on community service and its importance by joni kim, 2. community service experience: essay on what i learned by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 3. why is community service important by perry mullins, 4. concept of the community services in modern society essay by anonymous on ivypanda.com, 5. community service experience essay by writer molly, 1. community service vs. volunteering, 2. community service: then and now, 3. why we should volunteer, 4. community service in schools: mandatory or voluntary, 5. community service and its influences, 6. types of community service, 7. my community service experience, 8. donation or service: what’s better to give.

“The service helps the group of people in need, for example, senior citizens, children, people with disability and the likes. Sometimes community service is geared towards solving problems related to the needs of community members, especially low-income earners.”

Kim explains that community service is a voluntary action done through various means. It includes health and child care services, education, housing, and other improvements to aid and support the community members who need the most assistance. Then, Kim focuses on its importance to individuals, the community, and the country. The essay showcases how community service improves social, interpersonal, and decision-making skills. It also allows students to explore and find their interests. Ultimately, Kim believes that the real-life experience of volunteering assists in determining one’s career path, providing advantages when applying for a job.

“This experience has helped me to cherish my ability to influence and impact others in a positive way, and it helped me to look at community service as a benefit for myself, instead of just another obligation to fit into my schedule.”

In this essay, the writer reflects on their community service experience, sharing the gains they reaped from the program. They discuss how their undying love for animals and tight-knit communities made them realize the gravity of sharing. They also had the opportunity to strengthen and develop a new set of talents and skills from the encounter. However, the author also mentions that when the desire to do good morphs into a forced responsibility, it leads to failure. The writer says they often receive more benefits than the people and animals they help, as the experience makes them more patient, flexible, and responsible.

“True volunteering lies in an individual’s will and drives to help other and enforcing it eliminates that drive.”

Mullins focuses his essay on explaining why it should not be mandatory for students to do community service. For him, mandatory volunteering takes away the true meaning of volunteerism. Students only view it as additional work – an obligatory criterion they must check off their list to graduate. He claims that students will gain nothing but stress instead of new skills and knowledge when compulsory community services are in place.

“As for me, I consider community work as a good opportunity to get the main idea of some particular services, still, I would not have the same great desire to participate in social life if the services would become obligatory for graduation.”

In modern society, volunteering is becoming a necessary factor in many organizations. People with experience in community service have more opportunities to get a job. The author delves into community service’s importance but also criticizes that making it a requisite takes away its value. With various arguments from professionals like Alina Tugend , the essay further argues that no one would want to receive help from people who consider it an obligation.

“The community service project is different from other school educations the community service can teach us how to love others and how to fulfill our heart with joy.”

Molly dislikes homeless people because of their appearance and smell, but this all changes when cleaning and selling preloved items to homeless people becomes the best experience of her life. Community service taught her that the homeless are no different from her. She also learned to be thankful for her situation. She concludes that after the program, she became more respectful, responsible, and caring to other people.

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8 Helpful Prompts on Essays About Community Service

If you’re still confused about the topic and can’t choose what to talk about, you can use the prompts below:

To write this prompt, the first part of your essay should discuss the meaning of community service and volunteering. Next, identify and examine the different characteristics of a community service worker and volunteer to clearly explain their similarities and differences. Then finish your essay with your opinion on the matter or look for more information you can expound on in your own words. 

This prompt shows how people’s definitions, processes, and perceptions of community service changed over time. Research and write down how community service started in your country or area to make it more relatable. Include examples of community services that made a big difference for the community and consider how these services impacted people’s lives.

Explain to your readers what voluntary work means and why exposure to it is crucial. Next, write the advantages and disadvantages of volunteering and what they should expect if they decide to be a volunteer. Finally, share your experience to clarify your comments, suggestions, and other points.

The decision to make community service mandatory in every school is still up for debate. First, pen your opinion on this topic and whether or not you agree with compulsory community service. Then, discuss your reasons and provide examples or factual evidence to support your arguments.

Identify and scrutinize the positive and negative effects of community service. Find news articles where one type of community service impacted its volunteers, community, and people differently. Write down how the organizer dealt with different situations and if it affected the program’s outcome.

There are three kinds of community service: direct, indirect, and advocacy. First, discuss and give examples for each one. Then, explain how these services differ from programs under service-learning. For example, direct community service includes directly serving homeless people food and clothes, while in service-learning, volunteers will teach people to garden and earn income. 

Use this prompt to share your memorable experience while doing community service and what you learned from it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a short program at your school, work, or organization. The important thing is that you have experience in community service. Include your initial reaction and if it changed over time while you were doing the service.

Some choose to donate money to various organizations that perform community service. Others join the program and personally help other people. In this prompt, share your opinion on the topic and whether you consider donating as community service. To make your essay more intriguing, look for prominent personalities who consistently contribute or engage in community service versus those who only present monetary assistance. 

AI grammar checkers are powerful resources that can help you improve your writing. See our guide on how to use an AI grammar checker. For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

The Benefits of Community Service Experience for Me

• Categories: Community Service Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 1112 |

Updated: 4 November, 2023

Words: 1112 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

The essay explores the author's personal experiences with community service and the profound impact it has had on their life. The author begins by highlighting the altruistic nature of community service and the satisfaction they derive from dedicating their time to a cause they are passionate about. They mention volunteering for organizations like the SPCA and the Ithaca chapter of United Way due to their love for animals and the sense of community within United Way. The essay goes on to discuss the transformative effects of community service on the author. They describe how assisting abandoned animals made them a more empathetic person and provided a source of happiness and stress relief. Moreover, the experience taught them responsibility, flexibility, and patience. The author reflects on their initial reluctance to engage in community service due to academic stress but reveals how reconnecting with their passion for animals revitalized their commitment. They share stories of making a difference in the lives of children through United Way and bonding with childhood friends who inspired them with their charitable endeavors.

Table of contents

Personal growth and development, the true impact of volunteering, works cited, video version.

• DoSomething.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dosomething.org/
• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.servicelearning.org/
• Points of Light. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pointsoflight.org/
• SPCA International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.spcai.org/
• United Way. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unitedway.org/
• Chan, A. Y. K., & Lee, S. Y. (2018). Effects of community service on social-emotional outcomes: A meta-analysis. Child and Youth Services Review, 86, 1-10.
• Conway, J. M., Amel, E. L., & Gerwien, D. P. (2009). Teaching and learning in the social context: A meta-analysis of service learning's effects on academic, personal, social, and citizenship outcomes. Teaching of Psychology, 36(4), 233-245.
• Eyler, J., & Giles, D. E. (1999). Where's the learning in service-learning? San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Moely, B. E., McFarland, M., Miron, D., Mercer, S. H., & Ilustre, V. (2002). Changes in college students' attitudes and intentions for civic involvement as a function of service-learning experiences. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning , 9(1), 18-26.
• Zaff, J. F., & Catterall, J. S. (2003). Studying out-of-school arts participation via the quantitative case study method. Studies in Art Education, 44(3), 227-245.

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Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay

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How to Write the “Why This Major” College Essay→

Through your college applications process, you’re likely to come across the term “community service” many times. In fact, you may be asked to write an essay about it. This post will cover the specifics of a community service essay and how to go about writing one, including what to cover and common mistakes to avoid. 

What is a Community Service Essay?

You may encounter the community service essay as you’re writing your supplemental essays for college. These are school-specific prompts that only go to the college that requests them, unlike the personal statement , which goes to every school you apply to. Not all schools require community service essays, but several do. It’s also a common requirement for scholarship applications, especially if it’s a school-specific merit scholarship. 

The community service essay is an essay that describes the initiatives you have taken outside of the classroom to benefit your community. In a 2018 survey of 264 admissions leaders across the US, 58% said that community service is a tie-breaker between students who are otherwise equally qualified. The community service essay offers you the opportunity to shine light on the work you have done to make an impact on the world and people around you, and is an additional way to help you stand out among other applicants. 

Approaching the Community Service Essay 

Understand the essay requirements  .

As with any essay, it’s important to first understand what is expected of your essay. For a start, elements to pay attention to include: 

• Length requirements
• Focus or subject of the essay prompt 
• Organization of the essay 

Although all community service essays ultimately have the same purpose of having you describe your local service activities, they can come with different types of prompts. Below are three sample prompts. Note the differences in topic specificity, length requirements, and breadth of the prompt. 

From the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program: 

Please describe a meaningful volunteer or community service experience, including what you learned from participating.

From the University of California Application :

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words).

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words.

Brainstorming for your community service essay 

Once you have an understanding of what is required of the specific you are to write, the next step is to brainstorm ideas for a specific topic. If you have various community-engaged service experiences under your belt, consider the following before you finalize your decision. 

The best topics:

Are substantial in length and scope. It’s better to cover a long-term commitment than a one-off afternoon at the food pantry or animal shelter. 

Are transformative or inspiring. Although community service is “others”-oriented, colleges are looking to learn more about you. The ideal community service essay topic should be an experience that changed or challenged your perspective, and was ultimately fulfilling. 

Illustrate personal qualities or passions that you want to highlight. Given the specific prompt, and taking the rest of your application into consideration, which personal interests do you want to highlight? Which activity illuminates the personal quality that you want to bring attention to? 

These are all elements to consider before you begin writing your essay. 

Tips for Writing Your Community Service Essay 

1. include anecdotes.

Anecdotes are a great way to begin your essay, not only as a way to grab your reader’s attention, but by launching right into the experience of your service activity. You can start with a line about a particularly busy afternoon at the orphanage, or a morning cleaning up the streets after a storm, or the sense of accomplishment you felt when you watched a dog under your care at the animal shelter get adopted. 

2. Show, don’t tell 

We’re sure you’ve heard this axiom of general writing before, but it applies to college essays just as much as with any other piece of writing. Opt for evocative examples over plain explaining whenever possible. Take this sentence: “There was a lot of food waste at our school cafeteria.” It’s not nearly as powerful as this description: “I peered into the tall, gray trash cans to inspect the mountain of Styrofoam trays and discarded food. There were countless pizza crusts, globs of green beans, and unopened cartons of milk.” 

Anyone could write the first sentence, and it’s not a unique experience. In the second description, we’re shown the scene of the writer’s lunchroom. We get a peek into their perspective and life, which makes the writing more vivid and relatable. Aim to bring your reader into your world as much as possible.

3. Share your responsibilities and accomplishments.

The more tangible your community service activities feel to the reader, the more powerful your essay will be. Concretize your work by stating the basic details of what kind of work you did and what your duties involved, where it was based, when you began working, and the amount of time you spent working. 

Be sure to quantify your work and accomplishments when possible; it’s better to say your fundraiser yielded 125 books than “a large number” of books. It’s important to also elaborate on why the work you did matters. Why was it important? Did the books you collected or purchased after the fundraiser expand the library of the local orphanage that they already had, or did it offer the children easy access to books that wasn’t available previously? Be specific and detailed.  

4. Highlight what you learned and how you’ll use those lessons moving forward. 

Towards the end of your essay, you’ll want to share how you benefited from the community service work you did. This is an important part of the essay, because it shows how you are able to distill your experiences to applicable lessons in your own life. 

Think of this section in two potential parts: skills you learned, and personal development. Did you gain any hard skills, such as public speaking, poster design, or funds management? Then think about how you developed as an individual. Are you more empathetic or patient now? 

Things to Avoid in Your Community Service Essay 

1. don’t list out everything that happened..

You want to keep your essay well-structured and concise. This isn’t a résumé, or a play-by-play of the entire experience. Stick to the most telling details and anecdotes from your experience. 

2. Avoid using a pretentious or privileged tone.

Humility goes a long way, and entitlement can be smelled from afar. The purpose of this essay is not to paint yourself as a savior of any kind, but rather to show what’s important to you in your non-academic life, and how you approach solving real-world and interpersonal problems. 

3. Avoid clichés.

It may be tempting to quote famous people, but doing so can easily seem like a shortcut, plus it shows little of who you are. Try also to steer clear of trite and vague life lesson lines such as “I learned that people can be happy with so little,” or “I learned the importance of giving back.” Not only do they carry a tone of privilege, they are also sweeping general conclusions and don’t convey anything specific of what you learned. 

Community service is only a part of the college application process, which can be daunting and confusing. CollegeVine will help you navigate each step of the process, from building a college list, to calculating your chances at each school using our chancing engine. Create your free account and get started now !

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Community-based progress: the barangay rules

Posted by karlgarcia on May 26, 2016 · 163 Comments  

Barangay Hall, San Miguel, Lubao, Pampanga [Photo source: zamboanga.com]

By Karl Garcia

“The Philippines is a collection of tribes, of barangays  and municipalities ruled by families. This is where the government meets the people. There may be presidents and there may be oligarchs and there may be stuffed-shirt senators, but at the most basic level, the barangays rule the Philippines, and the families rule the barangays. This article identifies several ways the barangays can lead the nation to be a better place. “

In the most recent presidential debates, a part was about the community, mainly about health care. On the macro level, peace and order and education issues were also tackled.

I will focus on the community level in this write-up to discuss Justice, the Environment, Community Policing, Community Doctors and Community Schools. Then I’ll propose some action steps for the national agenda.

I have long proposed that many disputes can be settled in the barangay and not have to reach the court. The Supreme Court’s “ Justice on Wheels ” program also tries to reduce all the court backlogs, and most cases just settle, if not monetary amicable settlement, just amicably so it would be all over.

We have jail cells full of minors and even without the minors they are still jam packed like sardines. I won’t touch on our maximum security prison full of jail house rockers; maybe later. I suggest more Boys and Girls Towns , and it is about time to charge the parents when they fail in their responsibilities. Children sniffing solvent, children throwing rocks at wind shields, children jumping on roofs of jeepneys.

Something has to be done.

One solution is community service instead of jail time.

I can see that this is already done. These programs can clean up our dirty streets and esteros , and some are dealing with our reforestation requirements. You don’t have to commit a crime to do community service. Some fraternities and sororities are planting trees. Of course our NGOs are doing the same.

Crime in our country is hard to solve, but these measures can contribute much, not only on petty crime, but environmental and community problems as well.

Environment

Since I mentioned environment might as well go on with my issues.

Our laws do not allow any incineration.

What does our dear Environmentalist senator propose to do with our garbage dumps? Recycle everything? Man, in our house we have trash that is decades old. That may be a bit exaggerated, but sooner or later when you do a general cleaning, you throw stuff away. What if everyone went zero waste, that would make us hoarders, not recyclers.

Same with the macro situation, you reuse, re-purpose or simply recycle, and, in the end, you throw it out. You’ve got to allow at least for plasma gasification. Recycling and re-purposing is already being done. Kudos to Envirotech and Integrated Recycling Industries Philippines Inc.

Community Policing

Here are excerpts from an Inquirer article:

PH law enforcers look at UK model for Bangsamoro police

Offenders as Customers

But more than the facilities, it was the police mindset here that impressed the group.

The British police consider offenders “customers” to be treated with respect, according to Insp. Paul Roberts, who took the Philippine group on a tour of the detention center.

This philosophy was evident in the physical setup of the station, which had a reception desk you would mistake for that of a corporate office rather than a jail facility. The only thing that gave away the purpose of the place was a circular platform behind the reception desk with security cameras showing each detention suite.

Knowing the community

From police officers teaching subjects like substance abuse in primary schools, installing safety devices on houses and properties, organizing summer camps for restless kids, rehabilitating the community’s “Top 20” troublemakers or tracking lost horses, the North Wales police showed that knowing your community was key to an effective and trusted police force.

The Philippine group, composed of police and military officials, toured the headquarters in Colwyn Bay, Wrexham, Flintshire, Mold and Deeside, and joined foot patrols to see the North Wales police in action. The tour included a visit to the Airbus plant in Broughton to see how a single police officer contributes to peacekeeping in the giant aircraft wing factory.

They also visited a massive central command in Wrexham, where emergency calls are received and where various parts and establishments are monitored by high-definition security cameras. Here, the Philippine group saw how a duty officer can control the CCTV cameras to focus on a street, an establishment or a person of interest. Shops have radios to alert the police about shoplifting, riots or other untoward incidents. From the control room, the police can track down the offenders and make arrests.

Another showcase was Caia Park in the same town, an impoverished community previously torn by racial tensions and crime but has now been transformed into a model community, and where the police perform not only law enforcement but also social work.

The group met with the North Wales police head, Chief Constable Mark Polin, and Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick, the elected overseer of the force.

With a 1,500-strong force and 250 police community support officers (PCSOs), the North Wales police serves an area slightly bigger than Brunei, with a population of around 687,000 (2011 census).

Winston Roddick, the first-ever elected police and crime commissioner for North Wales, has this message to the Philippine police: consulting the people is essential.

“You’ve got to keep in touch with the community. Once you’ve set it up and you’ve built the bridge, you have to cross that bridge regularly in order to maintain the relationship,” Roddick told members of a Philippine technical working group looking for a model for policing in the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous region.

My Comments:

The Police are looking for a model to emulate for the eventual Bangsa Moro Police.

While learning from that model, they learned community policing. I suggest that community policing be installed nationally. Since we are composed of barangays, this model would suit us perfectly.

Community Doctors

An excerpt from article in bulatlat.com:

“ Our country is in dire need of doctors for the people. The starkest indicator of this dilemma is the state of community medicine practice in the country and likewise the dwindling number of community physicians.

According to the National Institute of Health, there have been more than 9, 000 physicians who have left the country as nurses between 2002 to 2005. Likewise, the Health Alliance for Democracy said around 80 percent of public health physicians have taken up or are enrolled in nursing. This year, it said, 90 percent of municipal health officers (MHOs) are taking up nursing and are expected to leave the country. The number of obstetricians and anesthesiologists are also fast depleting, followed by pediatricians and surgeons.

In the future, the best practices in community medicine should be documented and a strong system of supportive mechanisms for community medicine practitioners both in the public and private sectors should be developed.

“The health of the poor is a cardinal indicator of the state of people’s health,” Velmonte says. Among the resolutions passed was the formation of a community physicians’ organization to advance the discipline not only in the academe and medical community but also to gain ground in the promotion of health and development for the marginalized sectors of society.”

The priority of medical and nursing school graduates is to go to big hospitals, private practice or overseas. There are only a few or even no medical staff left for the barrios.

There must be ways to have doctors for the barrios, and a doctor who came from that barrio would be preferred.

Community Education.

The Community School and Its Relevance to the Present Times

The community school, pioneered among others by Dr. Jose V. Aguilar, a superintendent of schools in Iloilo and later Dean of the U.P. College of Education, is distinguished by elementary schoolchildren tilling little plots of land in front of their countryside schools. The concept left a deep mark on Philippine education, and should become a historical concern of educators, especially in its use for the present times. For the community school did not only mean getting schoolchildren to learn the farming skills of their parents; it also meant a three-way partnership between teachers, parents, and community in the insurance of a practical education both for the nation’s children, and the nation’s adults as well, using the vernacular as medium of instruction. Can the community school concept be used at present to solve the problems of poverty, unemployment and underemployment, taking into account the possibility that the movement that spawned it was a potentially subversive pursuit?

The rural communities outnumber the urban ones. The above case study is for agricultural communities. But we know from anecdotes that children cross rivers and mountains just to reach the only school nearest to their home. There are few busing programs. Some kids get tired and quit school.

Some are war torn. How can they continue schooling? They are joining the rebels.

Action Steps

We now move on to the national policies, programs and legislation I hope would finally come to fruition. Here’s what I wish would happen terms of policies and legislation. Some I already mentioned and will just summarize.

• For legislation, of course, some high profile bills like FOI, Anti-Dynasty, SSS pension hike, Magna Carta for the Poor, New Criminal Code, BBL, and decriminalization of libel.
• I also hope that, within the New Criminal Code, would be included community service in lieu of prison time, as mentioned above.
• Also I hope the CCT will be institutionalized in this bill.
• With reviewing the BBL, since the presumptive president supports federalism, I am sure federalism will be discussed.
• That means charter change, but before federalism, an anti dynasty law must be passed so no new local “kingdoms” will be established.
• Parliamentary form might also be considered, but before we do this, we must have a requirement for professional civil servants so that in a scenario where successive Prime Ministers get votes of no confidence, the government would not shut down.
• President Elect Duterte has mentioned leasing of islands to the Chinese. Before any talk of foreigner’s owning or controlling land, a National Land use Act must first be established.

______________

Reference sources are itemized in detail in the following preliminary articles at Irineo Salazar’s blog :

• Serving the community and the environment
• More on community – police, doctors, schools
• Initial wish list

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Filed under Citizenship/Patriotism , Crime/Corruption , Laws and Ethics , Philippine Government

It takes a Tanod like Karl (walking in boots through mud) to recognize the vital importance of the barangay… the core unit of the archipelago that became the Philippines since time immemorial.

This has made me think of a possible Department of Local Government to be created for Leni… parts of DILG, DSWD, DOLE, DOE and more – to supervise, assign budget and coach the local and barangay levels – Leni knows the barangays well, having been everywhere in tsinelas.

This could be the fix necessary as a preparation for more decentralization or even federalism.

Two of my articles that were inspired by Karl’s push in his preliminary articles:

http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/uncluttering-a-system/ – how to decentralize some things.

http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/cooperate-or-collapse/ – “The Polder Model” as an idea of how one could organize cooperation regionally and nationwide, based on the Dutch “polder model” – especially joint local environmental and waterway responsibilities…

Thanks Irineo,so many bills that shouldn’t be the job of congress like renaming of streets,increasing the bed space of a hospital.etc.

Your regional cooperation may prove that Federalism may not be necessary.

The barangay was difficult for me to get used to at first, rather small and personalized, some with venomous elections as one family tries to wrest control of the position from another. But I have come to appreciate how useful it is at solving petty disputes and listening to people who might otherwise not have a voice in city hall. It is a vital part of storm alerts and emergency clean-up afterwards and could do a lot more for medical care with the right practitioner. We already have a noise reduction policy, stray dog policy, metered water, ban on fireworks except the official barangay blast . . . all implemented during the past two years. There are the normal drunken petty disputes, one murder, a robust fiesta cockfight . . . but, all in all, the barangay gives order to what would otherwise be an unruly bunch of citizens. It indeed could be the key to the ‘discipline’ that PE Duterte envisions.

Thanks for your examples of how the barangay sets oder in a chaotic environment.

Joe for this ignoramus (!!!) , what ‘scale’ is normal.. How many people and or area or houses constitute your baranguay ?

Biliran Island has 8 municipalities and a 2010 population of 162,000. The largest municipality (Naval) has around 50,000 residents and 26 barangays. Some of the other municipalities have smaller barangays. Kawayan has a population of 20,000 and 20 barangays.

Biliran was site of the first large-scale shipyard, built in the 17th century. Galleons were built to support the Galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco in Mexico .[Wiki]

The local university teaches seamanship, and a lot of seamen live and retire in the community.

There are around 42K barangays nationwide, so taking the 92 million Filipinos and dividing it is around 2000+ people per barangay on the average. I wonder how big the biggest and how small the smallest barangays are.

The Rappler maps of the election results were excellent – what would be a great kind of Freedom of Information for the next years would be similar clickable maps of the 14 (?) regions, 82 (?) provinces, how many (?) LGUs and 42K barangays with the vital statistics:

– schools – hospitals – crime (shabu-infested or not) – order (rebel-infested or not) – income (rich, middle, poor)

If the focus is to be on progress FELT by the people, this should be the monitoring.

The data is there, there are enough IT experts in the Philippines, even Business Intelligence People – consolidating and presenting data is their discipline or field.

Population per unit (region, province, LGU, barangay) and area are also measures that give an idea of the status – over- or underpopulated? The other stuff can be added later.

The branagays in Makati City maybe the most populated in a small land area but maybe the richest in terms of infrastructure – thanks to then Mayor Jejomar. He equipped “his” barangays with a decent barangay hall, with aircons, computers, office systems, etc.; health center, transport vehicle, power for the barangay tanods….And to top it all, the barangay chairmen elect among themselves a Chairman who represents them in the municipal council and he has the same power as a municipal councilor. And they now have liveable allowances that barangay elections are now becoming “expensive” to a candidate.

Irineo, Karl, the journey is the solution.

A long long time ago I surmised, where does the rubber meet the road. For better or worsel, the visionary Marcos, Sr. ‘decreed’ the breakdown of the country into barangays as the social, political, economic administrative units of the country. During his visionary advent, computers were the only viable tool that could match the customized administration needs of each barangay. But then, computing power and expertise was not available as now. As in every IT project, enterprise definition is vital. So maybe, Tanod Karl is lighting the next steps as PiE’s flywheel is already churning and crunching the data toward prototypes, whatever forms are needed. 🙂

Joe, thanks for the Biliran historical note. This matches the fact that the first school established by the American colonial government was a nautical school, the second was a normal school (for teachers). This reflected the foresight and wisdom (however attenuated) of the early American colonial architects, IMO.

Ah, good to know. Find a strategic strength, and ‘train the trainers.” Many Filipinos work on the seas today, but I think the oligarchs don’t own the shipping companies. The taipans are landlocked. Somewhere twixt then and there the strategy of the capitalists got lost in favor of the tactics of the tribes.

Just a bit more on Filipino mariners:

“… the total of financial remittances sent to the Philippines by overseas Filipino seamen was US$2.501 billion during the first nine months of 2009 (US$2.393 billion in 2008).”

“… Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) described Filipino seamen as sailors who were “unsung heroes” of an “unsung industry”, namely the shipping industry that carried “most of the world trade in goods”. Mitropoulos further stated that the “international community should pay tribute to the Filipino seafarers” and to the Philippines for their contributions to the shipping and international seaborne trade.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_seamen#On_board_FOC_ships

Basic government services should be made available at the barangay hall level.

Technology plus organization indeed makes it possible. The igov.ph project is working on a government portal – but I would go one step further based on corporate models.

One portal for most citizen services, and staff in every barangay that have accounts and skills to be the interface for ordinary people. Make availing of most services possible at barangay level via this front-end, including local language support and bilingual forms.

Stuff like NCSO (birth, marriage, death) is already centrally computerized, maybe some things are better left at city hall for control reasons, but why do people have to endure long waits all the time if technology makes a service centre approach possible already?

A lot of the anger and unfamiliarity with government has to do with the lack of a service oriented attitude on one side, and lack of skills on the other. Bridging this is the challenge, and successfully creating that bridge engenders the trust which is lacking on both sides.

Bingo. Lack of service attitude + lack of skills/automation. I would add lack of opportunity to go anywhere, and pay that does not allow one to purchase things that, perverse or not, give one a sense of worth.

Yabang ang dating: I was a nobody in our own barangay but I did something for it, I was helped by the seniors as interviewers to conduct a study (2004) probably the first done on seniors in the Philippines. (if anybody is interested or if Joe Am wants to post it here I can search my old file.) It was very revealing and APOLITICAL. I did another thing. I was lecturer on the topic Creative Thinking on a training on MEDIATION of members of our Barangay’s Lupon Tagapamayapa of a seminar I designed for the Mediation Foundation of the Philippines.

Transparency: After my lecture I got a feedback that a member of the Lupon a former policeman did not like my lecture but held back his anger. My examples on THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX were really extremes LIKE: If you want to really reduce crime in the country jail all policemen and release all prisoners (come to think of it now I should have included all judges and justices) ; if you want to reduce wife abuse, just encourage and support husband abuse; Of course I explained the irrationality of my examples.

More yabang: I have a certificate of attendance from the Supreme Court on a Seminar on Mediation. Another co- participant was a former Dean of the UP College of Law. We were classmates decades ago on a course on the Improvement of Teaching by the College of Education ; he was already Law Dean at the time. We listened to a lecture of the Dean of Ateneo Law School who was President of the Mediation Foundation.

The brains mostly very hard working women PhDs three of them now all have passed (I was the barangay idiot who does not believe the publish or perish bs in the academe) of our College which we light heartedly refer to it as Barangay ??? and our Dean our Barangay Captain, who was appointed later as Presidential Adviser on Development Administration. Last time I heard, our very own UP Barangay have a Lady Barangay Captain who used to be a math major research assistant. Regardless of differences in the interpretation of theories we are indomitably interconnected in our barangay. I was for a time sitting on the item of another barangay lady who was on leave as probably the first woman National Treasurer who asked me when FPJ was running and upon hearing my answer she asked me WHY. I said the country needs a xxxxxx for a president. Look, we have Duterte now I should remind her of my prophetic wish When I see her again. And that is just a trickle, NOT the whole story of our Barangay in the academe

STOP, STOP, stop, JoeAm should yell at me now to stop using precious space for my rumbling blabbering.

Carry on Andy,thanks.Not yabang at all.

Tanod Karl’s article is clarion (loud & clear).

During Marcos, Sr.’s takeover more than a generation ago he sang a siren’s song to the country to justify his martial law. Many of my generation agreed and gave him carte blanche. Like the sailors of mythology, we were dashed to the rocks of destruction.

So now, PE Duterte is embarking to sing the same siren song. Hopefully, we get to plug our ears and the PE, like Ulysses, shall tie himself to the mast even as the song is sung as we row ourselves to safety.

Case in point, the BBL police group that Tanod Karl mentioned will be a good test under PE Duterte’s watch and ‘guidance’ together with the local executives. The ARMM region will be a good opportunity to apply principles and connectivity of services addressing ARMM’s needs. The British North Wales region population of 687,000 under police community care will find resonance in the demography profiles in the Sulu archipelago thusly:

Basilan pop 391,179 3,224 km2 Jolo pop 718,290 3,436 km2 Tawitawi pop 366,550 3,626 km2

And landlocked provinces of:

Lanao del Sur pop 933,260 13,494 km2 Maguindanao pop 944,718 9,729 km2

Tall order but so worthy of success.

Karl, it’s a good topic, thanks.

So many issues, and rather ecletic. I’ll jump in at a topic now and then when I grab some time.

On Justice: 1.You asked for cases to be resolved at Barangay levels to spare congestion at the courts. Your are obviously right, it’s a matter of (a) case criteria and (b) mechanism. Certain cases can be resolved at local level — mostly more trivial domestic in nature types, I’m sure you are not suggesting the barangay captain to hold court. I suspect most cases would be arbitration in nature, then an arbitrator would suffice. We don’t need a full-flegded magistrate. I wonder if this is already in practice because I seem to have seen telecast of an open session. An authoritative guy sat to hear from 2 parties, and after hearing complains, arguments from both sides, he chastised one of the parties and he made some final orders. I did’nt understand, it was in dialect.

2. Are there boys/girls towns here in Phils? Juveniles should not be in same prison as adults. Whole idea for boys/girls towns is not punitive but rehab. Thus programs are some for of schooling, social/civil/moral types of courses, military style drills for discipline etc. More importantly, the sentence will not be reflected in the child’s records after some time.

Thanks Chempo, I don’t suggest the barangay to have a court,you are right arbitration,mediation is preferred to settle disputes.

Senator Cayetano even wants to make the age to be considered an Adult to be 12 years old. I think he thinks more should go to jail. That is not the way to do it,if there ar more children going to jail. By the way, Remember your comment about needing a bill for something to be done at the LTO in Sarangani,I shareyour frustrations,and Irineo’s latest blog is all about that.

Hi Karl, “Remember your comment about needing a bill for something to be done at the LTO in Sarangani,I shareyour frustrations,and Irineo’s latest blog is all about that.” That is what Federalism is good at… devolving power to make decisions down to level where a) the issue is considered important so it is dealt with and b) the people involved have some knowledge and can make an informed decision.

The proponents are now having disagreements on when to launch it.Would it be ASAP or before mid term elections.(Re:Federalism)

Chempo, first thanks for the info. The last time I went home, I dropped in at the City’s Office on MEDIATIONto say hello and find out if Dr Oliver and Judge Lucy still remember me. My God, It was SRO. At first thought these are not Barangay people-looking, well dressed, mostly well-to-do and professional in appearance. They are not really poor people feuding (neighbor or family feuds in the Barangays).

My wacky thought: This people are not here to settle scores, they are trying to economize from high court fees. The word for peace and justice at the Barangay level is MEDIATION, between labor and management disputes, the word is ARBITRATION, but Chempo and others in the field you are right both words are correct and synonymous in the pursuit of justice. If I may, reading the book of Judge Judy reveals more than her program on TV.

So on that visit, I jumped the queue and asked the pretty lady behind the desk and asked her retired honor: Judge do you remember me? She looked at me like a judge looking pained at a bumbling prosecutor, “Of course naman, kumusta ka na? Di ka nagbago.” MEDIATION at Barangay level even in a financial district can oil the expensive wheels of social justice.

Mediation maybe that’s the common term n arbitration is the more legalistic term?. Anyway we know the purpose. Do u mean any 2 parties can go to any barangy for this? No residency requirements? Well if it’s possible n at lower cost, it certainly suits Karl objectives.

I dealt with peripheral not substantive matters on MEDIATION, first world countries have that as old hat and have all the info and techniques on mediation. I know many cities now have their MEDIATION CENTERS. Take Metro Manila Cities, mediation is a real need even for business enterprises located in urban barangays. I don’t know particular jurisdiction and defined cases covered by authorized mediators.

chempo, please allow me to contribute a bit on the topic though I hope my limited knowledge in English would be enough to make it understandable.

Here goes. Something happened in the barangay and the agrieved party went to the police headquarters (instead of to the barangay hall) to lodge a complaint. The police will determine the case if it’s within the jurisdiction of the barangay justice. If it is, the police will send the complainant to go to the Barangay Authorities. At the barangay level, the barangay captain calls both parties for investigation and let them explain the matter. If both parties won’t agree to a settlement of the case right there, it will be referred to a committee of three barangay justices called ‘lupon’ who are both acceptable to the parties in terms of fairness. If both parties can’t agree to settle the case there, they will be given 45 days to think it over for themselves after which the case will be elevated to the fiscal’s office for adjudication with a signed certification by the Barangay Captain that both parties can’t agree on a settlement.

Same if the case is brought direct to the Barangay instead of to the police.

Thanks Bert. So I see there is some mechanism in place. I guess these are all disputes civil in nature.

If the severity of the case is such that violence and injury is involved, the Barangay Authorities will not adjudicate but instead will elevate the case to the police.

Rightly so. I remember a friend who was going to evict a tenant and he was advised to go see barangay office first before immediately going legal. I didn’t follow up on what happened. I think the idea is like village elder trying to resolve matters locally. Which is good.

Purely, anecdotal in my experience: one in Baguio, one in Quezon City, one in La Union coastal hometown.

There is some commonality and difference in the scale of each barangay. Commonality, the experience of ‘officialness’ and the public airing of grievance and first contact with objective definition of one’s case. In my hometown barangay, being an interested party, I could see the importance of careful due diligence disabused from the emotional load of one’s case. The barangay in Quezon City was bad, acute nepotism because of salaried position. The one in Baguio had a quasi-legal tendency, one could bring a lawyer as first point of contact. So obviously, there is quite a big variety of possible configurations as to the implementation of the barangay idea – an education in itself.

Leni for president… or am I too late?

Preventing crime the Jesse Robredo way or killing criminals the Duterte way? In preventing the barangays are essential.

https://lenirobredo.com/leni-robredo-pushes-for-barangay-reform/

CONGRESSIONAL CANVASSING OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RETURNS

Date Time Marcos Robredo Difference

5/25 2015 02.823 02.627 0.196 5/25 2045 03.052 03.237 -0.185 5/25 2115 03.244 03.433 -0.189 5/25 2130 03.281 03.577 -0.295 5/26 2000 11.011 08.601 2.410 5/26 2030 11.877 09.717 2.160 5/26 2100 12.443 11.305 1.137 5/26 2130 13.078 12.891 0.186 5/26 2155 13.126 13.043 0.083

Notes – zero placed in front of numbers made to line up columns as it would appear in the post – votes in millions – with only some 40 COC’s uncanvassed out of 165 and a few set aside for the Provincial Board of Canvassers to explain discrepancies – note too that most of the uncanvassed COC’s have small votes compared to those canvassed today (5/26) the second day of canvassing.

TRIVIA AND A CONJECTURE: WHY DOES SEN MIRIAM SANTIAGO NOT CONCEDE?

Why does Sen Miriam Santiago not concede. That is the question.

My conjecture: methinks the good Senator is giving the country at least one last gift before she rests — and perhaps retire for her health and family — after the election campaign which must have been extremely grueling for her. A swan song of sorts.

By not conceding she, in effect, forced the Congress to see through the speedy canvassing of both the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election Returns in the on-going Congressional Canvass. Thus, not causing the VP canvass to effectively go on a slow boat to China if it is separated by an early resolution of the Presidential Proclamation with her concession. Otherwise the situation becomes perfect for the additional gimmickry of Marcos. I also believe — another conjecture — that her credible spies must have reported the behaviors of PE Duterte and Marcos relative to their campaign as they impact on her own. And to a proud and intelligent Miriam, this may have left a bad taste in her mouth.

Thus, killing two birds with one stone so to speak — by not conceding.

Why my Barangay sucks?

Well. for starters drive the main route and take a close look how the business ventures accommodate their locals business in top of residential side walks, even blocking the street right a way. The word Building code and zoning is non existence.

Take a detailed look at the local barangay office bldg. and you will see holes and rust in their own roof. Surely the slum attitude is predominant.

Yet, during night time, it all night wolves and vampires come out to dwell and prey. Police presence is an act of God and Barangay Police volunteers look more like Mafioso’s in a prowling mode.

Sorry I got little respect for their own state of sorriness.

What do you propose be done about it, and how might you help in that regard?

@ Joe America and Mary Grace P. Gonzales

Well your questions are valid here are some of my views from my own experiences.

Typhoon and population relocation.

Looking at the population dislocation to may area, A lot of people were dislocated from Manila during Typhoon Ondoy, and many other afflicted areas.

They were relocated from different barrios in Manila. Locally Private lands were bought by the government and a quick and ugly setup of housing bldg was build to accommodate those families.

Yet, a lot of families accepted those new conditions, due to their predicament and financial constrains. That was not a problem, the Government was doing their best to help the people of the Republic with relief and food. The floods were rampant.

The problem was some families and individuals brought and refuse to change their BAD habits, All types of heinous Crimes and rampant usage of drugs did happen and escalated to a war zone.

Yet, I remember watching continuously the police blue lights at a distance during night, We knew something or someone got hurt.

What we did as a community?

We did collected our donations, no money involved from our village, such as canned foods, Rice, clothing, shoes, sandals and brought them to our local schools. We did not trusted others, we wanted to see for ourselves the goods were giving equally and properly.

We did approach the Barangay local officials in how we could help them?, they try, but themselves were victimize, they were scare, intimidated and lost their confidence. We had to provide our own physical security,

We had no choice, but to protect our own supplies volunteers, Doctors and nurses, while they help out others.

Our Doctors and Nurses were the driving force and leadership withing our own village, That was good, We show force in numbers with discipline, respect and character, We took action in helping the real needy families. Including those criminal evil punks.

Yet, the Red Cross, Iglesia de Cristo and the local Catholic churches were the first ones to show up 3days later and we were in full swing, united as one helping others. No bitching or complains, it was about the families.

We had a pretty good size of volunteer as drivers, we took shifts doing our routines. Including supply pickup, kitchen cooking deliveries, garbage collecting and burning. Later, 3 weeks our board council were notified that we were not need it anymore.

The government came in full force. But late,3 weeks later. Some kind of order was restore. A lot of work has to be done for our adjacent communities.

Later, we were invited by the local community for the first time, I was able to talk to my neighbors in peace with no worries, We became close friend,

As a foreigner, it made me very humbled,I understood their pain and needs, did learn a lot from them.

For me, that was a rewarding experience.

During Typhoon Glenda, same scenario happen again, but chaos was not ruling, Organized intervention at all local and government levels was effective.

Still our own barangay hall still looks like a war zone and that really does pisses me off! I cant figure that one out!

Yet with the Laguna water project on full motion, has brought some hope and civility to others,

Then, The Meralco projects, installed permanent power poles,, street lights are WORKING! and the new local telecom expansion project, know we are able to enjoy ADSL bundle service after 4 years.of waiting. Some progress has been done, More needs to be done.It is worth helping and defending!

Wonderful contribution. I can imagine that it was rewarding. I personally have nothing but praise for National Government’s work after Yolanda, which was very damaging here, and Ruby, a little later. The electrical grid work was nothing short of fantastic. The follow-up orderly and prioritized and quick for the things that mattered. The highest priority was putting local governments back on their feet, and new city/municipal halls sprouted across the region. That was Sec. Roxas’ only responsibility and it got done fast and in good order. People without houses wanted them TODAY, and it just does not happen that way. The situation was made worse by a complaining local government in Tacloban that, rather than taking care of those people, stoked their angers with a bunch of political claptrap.

The important point to grasp is that the laws of the Philippines make local governments responsible for storm preparation and relief. If an area is declared a calamity area, the provincial and national governments can engage, and three weeks to get organized is not outside of reason, I think. For sure, after Yolanda, the national government has done a lot of work to get staged ahead of storms with troops and emergency food and water, so immediate emergency response is better now. But it still would take time to get an enduring clean-up, sheltering and recovery effort going.

The barangay is extraordinarily valuable, or potentially valuable, in case of natural disasters. They have to be competent though.

Nice work. God bless you. Indeed, some Philippine geographical locations, nature or man-made require periodic help from strong typhoons. Some are lucky, like ours, where come the likes of Ondoy, Peping or Yolanda, except for the farmers for losing their crop, the most we can complain about, is that we are home-bound!

👍🏻Very nice.There will be more typhoons to come,and with hopefully with lessons already learned,we will be more prepared.

Our barangay sucks, too in some areas that you mentioned like blocking street right of way. Scores of private vehicles, who have no garages of their own, occupy the side streets and sidewalks such that pedestrians have to play patintero with moving vehicles. It is such a trial negotiating our streets – for pedestrians and motorists alike.

The garbage collection for our subdivision is quite good, the trucks arrive at regular days and times and we have made it a practice to bring out our trash only when they are already there so the stray dogs and and human trash scavengers won’t spread it all around the pavements. The same cannot be said on the streets outside our subdivision with flies, rats, and human and other animal scavengers competing for space around the mountain of trash..ugh!

Our barangay has been a beneficiary of an able water pump that quickly addresses our flood problem in the past 2 years or so such that the usual 1 to 2 months of makeshift boats during waist deep flood have been reduced to just 2 weeks or less.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/07/08/1474697/mmda-all-flood-pumping-stations-operational

We hired a new kasambahay (housemaid) a year ago. She made a cash advance of 1,000 peso so she can send it to her starving family, or so she said. She arranged her clothes, shoes and other personal belonging to her assigned room and listened attentively to how things are being managed at home, and started her job. Two hours later, she asked permission to buy some cp load so she can call her family from my niece’s sari-sari store, one house away from us. She never came back, so after failing to see trace her movements in our subdivision gate CCTV, we went to our barangay to report her as missing in case something happened to her. I was impressed by how the barangay staff dealt with the matter – after having the incident blotted on their records, they gave us their emergency number with instructions to call them once the girl showed up – to not let her enter our home again but to delay her until they can come to pick her up for questioning to prevent other prospective employers from experiencing what we did. She never came back to pick up her things.

Two issues in your comment: barangays can be useful or not. They are managed by amateurs, in the main. A lot of the services and disciplines they embrace are those set by the mayor.

The dedication to work, or lack thereof, of the subsistence class is worth an entire blog, and I think I’ll write about it. We’ve had similar incidents to the one that you cite, so many that my wife just gave up and decided to be an American style home-maker, doing all the cooking and lording it over her relatives who help with the cleaning (hahaha). I know you are generous with your pay and benefits, more so than most. But those things don’t matter to a subsistence worker. Today matters. Not tomorrow.

Yea,reliable and trustworthy DHs, here, are a dying entity. Our DHs when I was young were loyal and standouts in skills. Now, they are the opposite. Like your Lady, Joe, I had resumed my independent American lifestyle. House – and yard workers are on call. Dailies are on me, including lawn watering and caregiving to 5 pet dogs (used to be 6 but one had gone to heaven😊). Thank God, La Niña is here, saves me a daily 4 AM alarm to water.

Yes, La Niña is welcome, although it did set my diligent wife to work re-caulking here and there to stop seeping water around the doors. She is master of many trades and mostly trusts me to stay out of her way. 🙂

🙂 I stay out of my wife’s way too.

Wow, what a lady! Wonder woman. I can’t do caulking or anything to do with plumbing or ceiling leaks but yes, am an expert in water hose leaks. Lol.

Barangays serve as excellent mediators in domestic help issues, as is the PNP. Like Mary Grace, I have experienced, 3 separate incidents involving a domestic help (DH) leaving with sizeable utang without due paalam. In 2 of such cases, a barangay was involved; the barangay representatives acted promotly and were professional in hearing both sides. The loans were settled, expectedly, in my favor. I had no barangay recourse with the third case because she came from a Manila-based agency. I reported her, however, as a missing person to the PNP. In two other DH cases, I reported directly to my town PNP because each of the DHs has relatives who are officials at the barangay of concern. In each case, the police investigator (different each time) did a great job acting on the complaint and promptly resolving the loan issue in my favor. Admirably, the PNP investigation process, I saw, is respectable and considerate of the defendant, at the same time, empathetic of the plaintiff. But they have a direct way of making the defendant feel remorseful and make up for a wrong deed.

I do bot know if it s a modus,but many don’t come back after attending a funeral. We too experienced runaway from utang incidents.

Irineo always reminds us that we are lucky here,because when we are abroad,we learn to live without help pronto.

Must be a help problem epidemic! Lol. Actually, the now you see them, now you don’t phenomenon incredibly vary. In my experience, at least. Funeral is only one of them. I think expats adjust quick and reasonably well to living in the Philippines without domestic help.

I mean the reasons for ‘now you see them, now you don’t…’

funerals,sick relatives,name it. expats can adjust well,I agree,but some of them are not here for “helpless” households.

You’re right Karl. Some come for a much needed vacation, get their 6 month Phil stay out of the 6-6, or retire here for good to live life like a royal, to bawi, if not to live life as it should be.

I had also an experience with a kasambahay. my brother in the province sent a kasambahay to our sister in manila who ordered for a helper who would help her with the household after learning that my family with my 2 grown-up children and their partners are coming for a holiday and she is having panic attacks already with the thought. My brother gave the DH fare, directions with house telephone and cell phone and advance pay for a month even took her to get to the bus. she left for manila but didn’t get to my sister’s residence. she went somewhere else, maybe even shopping with her advance salary. told my sister not to worry as husband and myself and the kids are used to german kind of life, no helper, but get things in order, if husband gets in the way, he, the children and the visitors help! otherwise, no holiday. that’s how we get things done. But the sister is still trembling in panic. not yet convinced. haaaiiizz!

pelang is haaaaiz German for Hay Naku? 😉 joke.

could be. but it could also be japanese doing karate or practicing his samurai and shouting Haiii! by the way, Hai in german means shark. but i learned that from reading comments at fb and wondered why. so i said, why not? he-he!

Mary Jane has the copyright for that, nephew. 🙂

Sorry, it’s Mary Grace’s. Haaaist. See, I can’t do it right. Help, Mary Grace!

Pelang: So It is a karate kiyai(sp) Haii. Haha . so it is shark in german.Now I know.

Ok Uncle Sonny,Mary has copyrighted it.

Lessons learned over the years, personal and vicarious, regarding DHs: 1. avoid sending fare money or travel ticket, plus or sans cash advance, even when recommended to you by trusted somebody; 2. Cash advance, to already an existing DH, should not be over a month salary: 3. Be cautious about hiring DH from the same town; 4. Never trust house keys with them, especially gate keys; 5. Generosity and fexibility in the boss makes no difference to their longevity, etc.

Profiling a reliable, tend to stay longer DH has been my ‘retirement research project’ (so far, none of my varying ‘hypotheses’ regarding such has been supported…😄😅

Indeed, not only do typical incentives often not work, they can work backward. In other words, giving a bonus may tag you as foolish and ripe to be taken advantage of. The worst case of that here was that we gave tin for the roof of the local church, which meant we had money, which meant the local contractor was well advised to overestimate the amount of tin needed by 20%.

Not at all surprising, Joe.

The situations sited is the same in our barangay. The issue is broad, rural barangays are different from urban barangays, they have different problems and need different solutions. The key is with the City/Municipality Mayors and Officials. Barangays could not generate enough revenues exclusive for itself. It is best that every City/Municipality should have a very good masterplan to address problems such as zoning, building constructions, etc. Barangay police should be empowered. Issuance of Mayor’s Permits for businesses and even permits to PUV/PUJ should be meticulously regulated and see to it that it is within the masterplan. And the must important, budget. National budgeting should be done bottom-top, and the masterplan should be considered in doing the budget. Without the masterplan to begin with, any developments is destined to fail.

Agreed, but the MMDA,DOTC,DPWH,etc. have lots of master plans,I guess,it is back to resolve.

“lots of master plans” maybe a problem, there should only be one. Honestly, i have no idea if MMDA, DOTC, have any masterplans, if they have it is comprehensive? it is well-coordinated? it was applied? Best masterplan for a city i have seen belongs to a private real-estate/construction company. Airports, ports, malls, residences, railways, etc. all are there but it needs to be coordinated with the neighboring cities/municipalities. Thats why it is best that in making the city/municipality masterplan, it should be well-coordinated in the provincial level the least.

One of the hidden efforts of the Aquino Administration is the revitalization of the National Competitiveness Council that was started under President Arroyo, but never really backed. One thrust is to get rid of laws and red tape processes that restrict business competitiveness. Another is to promote effective local government management and results by focusing on what makes a city or municipality work well. This was an initiative of Jesse Robredo that was carried forward by Secretary Roxas. Communities compete and earn additional funds for doing well. The three main components of the evaluation are: (1) economic dynamism, (2) government efficiency, and (3) infrastructure.

If cities and municipalities (and their barangays) are not well-planned, disciplined and professional . . . that is a reflection mainly of the mayor, I think. The whole idea that Yolanda’s destruction in Tacloban was the fault of Roxas is one of the more incredible myths ever fostered on a gullible public. Very squarely, that was the Mayor’s doing. By law and by deed . . . or lack thereof.

An anti-dynasty law is desperately needed to weed out the power-mongers who occupy their positions because they are favored and powerful and kiss political ass . . . and do nothing to organize a wholesome, productive, clean, honest city or municipality.

http://www.competitive.org.ph/cmcindex/pages/indicators/

Why it is “hidden”? If empowering communities is in Roxas agenda he should have give emphasis on these last election time (not with the frequent statement of “continuing daang-matuwid”) But election is over, we believe, and election campaign is dirty. President Duterte may continue that policy, as it seems a “in preparation” for his proposed federalism thingy. I agree, its the Mayor (and the counselors too) that got the power, actually, the Local Government Code gives them enough disciplinary power within the City/Municipality.

Incoming DPWH sec is aware of the need for interagency coordination and cooperation.

Hidden because people and media care more for gossip than information.

Another government body with a masterplan:NEDA

http://www.gov.ph/2015/11/04/statement-secretary-balisacan-flood-management-masterplan/

My barangay also sucks but it’s my choice to live here so no whining for me. My friend’s barangay does not suck but I can’t afford living there so my barangay is the best barangay in my opinion so better just grin and bear it, :).

An alternative approach to the fuss about “federalism” by the incoming Administration and its believers.

Barangays Municipalities Provinces Islands/Regions National Government

— a circle within a circle within a circle …

Before I go further, thanks, karl for the good read.

If the barangays can be made to work well as part of the system — it is not easy and I do not have comprehensive well-thought out ideas — it may offer a more cost-effective and less painful approach to part of the change needed. And to think, barangays are right there with the “pipol” and figure a lot in election or choice of government officials — the very foundation of democracy. We should improve the mechanisms of Comelec along with it.

Can Leni Robredo help given the chance? It is a monster task and may exhaust the well-meaning newcomer.

Thanks Manong NH. Josephivo posted a link on Leni’s push for barangay reform.

I hope the canvass moves faster,because BBM is stil leading.

Naku naman😞.

Thanks for the link; thanks too to Josephivo. On the Congressional canvass for VP — as of 4:00 pm today Robredo ahead of BBM by 234,898.

yehey.OFW na lang ata eh,tapos ito tonight,I think.

or just a few hundred thousand left for tomorrow.

It is almost anticlimactic. Practically all big-ticket items are in except for those whose Provincial Board of Canvassers are asked to appear to explain some discrepancies like Samar, I believe. The rest are mapping up operations of small-ticket items from overseas. I believe the game is over.

On the live streaming of the congressional canvassing, I can see old man Enrile busy with his digital tablet with Sotto at his side. Enrile busy with his favorite digital game? Candy crush? 🙂

maybe before it was bejewelled. 😜

Yes, that is the one. Tried to recall but failed. I gotta have my grandchildren teach me those games. I bet my grandchildren can beat the old man. (I meant Enrile. 🙂 )

Yes,you are not that old,and why would they beat you😉

In theory, barangays are a good model for leading the nation to progress; however, it should be noted that this tends to be a double edged sword in practice. Many of the more corrupt practices in national government can start out at the barangay level, doubly so when it comes to the SK (I don’t know if it’s still around)—I remember a Facebook friend who quipped that he should try running for the SK because he would then be paid 17,000 pesos to do nothing (his words).

I have also heard stories of political dynasties grooming their offspring in government by first making them run in the SK. So there should be a framework in place to prevent these sorts of abuses before we can start using the barangay model in a way that benefits everyone (kudos to Karl for mentioning the Anti-Dynasty Bill, that will help a lot).

Things should also be more transparent at the barangay level—my late grandmother had issues with payments to our barangay senior citizens’ association, and our barangay chairmen have had a disturbing tendency to favor relatives in barangay matters. These things need to be ironed out first before the barangay can start fulfilling its purpose.

Thanks UHT. As for the SK,I am afraid it is still around. Elections only postponed to October 2016.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/669833/senate-approves-sk-poll-postponement-on-final-reading

Agree, barangay reform is warranted for fundamental municipality building. While at it, instill barangay-wide discipline and neighborliness. In addtion to mediation, earlier noted, and nitely anti crime patrolling, road side grass trimming is the other visible barangay activity. But…sometimes, they clean up, sometimes not. Besides, is not regular enough (reasons: no funds, grass cutting machine out of order, grass cutter sick, etc) nor often enough during the rainy season. Garbage-clogged canals on backstreets await attention, more especially now with the rainy season in.

I propose thet pay all the scavengers.

http://www.indoboom.com/2013/stories/jakarta-to-pay-garbage-scavengers-2-million-a-month-salaries.html

Then everyone in Jakarta wont go to office,they will just become scavengers,that is why it did not work.😉😜

Fabulous idea! Win-win.

On Joe’s note from the editor,

Varied “characters” in the Philippines* Hope is on the ropes Philippine “rope a hope”

(*Short description/paraphrase)

CONGRESSIONAL CANVASSING OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL ERs IS TERMINATED

Report will subsequently be prepared for presentation to the Congress for their decision/ proclamation. VPE Robredo got about 230,000 votes over Marcos.

Exact difference: VPE Robredo over Marcos as canvassed is 263,473.

Yea n I had sent the a congratulatory message to the VPE signed Makaleni to all my distribution lists as FYI. To cap their night and dream sweet😉.

The last man standing… is a woman.

One thing I remember Leni saying, a paraphrase: I am always praying that when I do become Vice President, I will remain the same and not let the power and entitlements of the office change me.

She said “may the best woman win” .,..(the VP race)

It’s ‘VPE’ Robredo now, it would be without the ‘V’ next. It’s the Leni Destiny.

So prophetic, she is gifted.

She had also said, before she tied with BBM as first in a later survey for VP: “I will be the last man standing”.

If I were a barangay captain I would spearhead regular programs of communal work. In Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore we call this gotong royong or kampong spirit. Kampong is village. These projects are voluntary basis and for benefit of the barangay. It can be area cleaning, sprucing up the streets, educational, tree planting, etc. What is achieved from these – direct benefits of the project, community interaction, cement barangay officials – constituents relationship, community ownership of responsibilities, build civic consciousness, great way to teach the young, etc.

Get these organised properly, like setting up committees, sub committees per project, self fund raising, etc. A good barangay captain can inject great pride to the community through these efforts.

I’d volunteer if such programs are set up. At least in one committee of most interest.

Well, it is about to happen, about time that the benign VIRUS of volunteerism afflict the Philippines and its people. It is the antidote to the many ills sickening even strong countries in the free world. Canada is ahead of USA in volunteerism. France has it own sans frontiers volunteers. UN ranks number one in supporting volunteerism. Our volunteerism of old called bayanihan is tainted of transferring houses to encourage SQUATTING.

Just imagine country neighbors exchanging volunteers and each country having a budget to take care of neighbor volunteers. Make it an ASEAN thing to backstop industries Overseas Workers (our OFWs). Countries should help each other TAKE CARE of the poor. Somebody should develop and write this new concept for foreign service experts who are blind to the maladies of poverty.

The kampong is the basic Malay unit of community – the Filipino barangay was and is it’s equivalent, as Filipino basic culture is Malay.

Subdivisions and malls are indications of the failure of Filipino barangays and municipalities to organize public space properly – privatization a band-aid…

The more privileged reaching out to the less privileged (subdivisions are often part of barangays but the poorer part of the barangay is usually kaput) is the key – but it takes two to tango and it may be hard for the middle class to reach out to the poor, especially if they are suspicious of the “rich” – I wonder what Mary’s experiences are in her barangay, has helping the poorer parts get stuff together already been tried, has it helped already?

Create traditions. Traditions are one of the contributors to the happiness of the Danes, the most happy nation in the world. They have a lot of traditions also on community level and not only fiestas, also children parties, cleaning the parks, supporting less fortunate community members, processions… all on fixed dates with fixed (commercial) sponsors, fixed routines.

In my rural hometown, there are all kinds of community celebrations and gatherings that promote fellowship, from the religious to purely social or civic. If I went to all of them, I won’t need to cook to eat. Food is at the center of all these.

The fiestas and celebrations in Albay are an integral part of the community spirit that Governor Salceda promotes… his Facebook feed is full of them.

Common traditions bind people emotionally into greater communities.

Yea Jose I agree traditions are important. Make some of these gotong royong projects into traditions, that would be great.

The next time SWS will do their ”poor” investigation in the barangay’s they should add a question…”What did you do the last 6 years to improve your life”

Amen that, Sup?

Yes,amen to that!👍🏻

Sup, should be ‘ ! ‘, not ‘ ? ‘ at the end. 😊

“…and our barangay chairmen have had a disturbing tendency to favor relatives in barangay matters.”—uht **************************************

Of course it’s disturbing, hehehe. As in the local positions, or national, in the police, in the executive, legislative, and the judicial departments…it’s all the same It’s a universal culture, man. BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER, :).

The more traditional and rural the culture, the more it is like that…

There is even a marked difference in Germany – the more Catholic and/or rural the more you have traditional cliques, the more Protestant and/or industrial the less you have them.

Not to mention the differences within Europe – the more Nordic cultures place more emphasis on self-reliance and independence, the more Latin cultures are more on family and interdependence. Greece: three families alternately supplied most postwar leadership.

THE MATTER OF “UNDERVOTING” CITED BY MARCOS LAWYERS

In the final congressional canvass, the votes in millions

– For the Presidential Candidates are

Duterte 16.602, Roxas 9.978, Poe 9.101, Binay 5.416, Santiago 1.456, Seneres 0.026 for a Total of 42.579

– For the Vice Presidential Candidates are

Robredo 14.419, Marcos 14.155, Cayetano 5.903, Escudero 4.932, Trillanes 0.869, Honasan 0.789 for a Total of 41.067

According to Garcia, Marcos Lawyer, the “Undervoting” for the VP Candidates was 3.900 millions.

Comelec estimates that the turnout in this year’s national election relative to the registered voters of 55.7 millions (local and international) is 81% or 45.117.

MY COMMENTS

1. It is apparent that Garcia’s “undervoting” estimate of 3.900m is the difference between the voter turnout number and the VP votes total, that is 45.117-41.067 = 4.050m.

2. While we are at this, using the same logic, there was also undervoting for the Pres candidates of 2.538m (= 45.117 – 42.579).

3. Now the so-called undervoting can be explained by a lot of factors. The difference in turnouts versus actual valid votes are due for example to the invalid votes because of the filling up of the forms; the decision of the voter to vote for the more important Pres post and leave the VP post blank; among others.

4. Besides, to me the more realistic measure of the level of “undervoting” for the VP candidates is the difference between the Pres votes total and the VP votes total. That is 1.512m (= 42.579 – 41.067). On this basis, the “undervoting” is only 3.4% relative to the turnout number (= 1.512/45.117 convered to percentage) — very much explanable by Item 3 above.

But of course, I am not Marcos and his lawyers who must be very good at numerology and very fertile imagination.

Not to mention really really really desperate.

Is undervoting just that or is it the sum of not voting and wrong voting as voting for 2 VP candidates, unclear shading etc?

When undervoting is generated artificially at the canvassing level there should be traces left on the randomness in the figures on a digits level, cheating is not that easy. What probability is required to be trustworthy, 51% or 99.9%?

There are a lot of games young people (like me) nowadays play where there are chances to get units after completing missions. The rate of getting a good unit usually hangs at one percent, lower than that 3.4%. But players hold on to that one percent in the hope that it will produce something.

I think something very similar is happening with Marcos and his lawyers right now…..

Now if they could claim overvotes for Robredo, then they have a chance.

Here is an idea: an enterprising computer programmer can create the UNDERVOTING-OVERVOTING GAME and make money. It rhymes with “heads I win; tails you lose.”

Thanks for the analysis, NH. Have you considered sending an opinion as guest writer to PDI? Or to the Guardian, maybe? You should.

LG: it is really a minor matter. But thanks for the nice thought.

Maybe for the general readership of the Society, it may be a small matter, but to some like me who can use education on such matters, it is not. (When the Marcos camp declared over 3M under votes, I did wonder how they arrived at the figure. So far, I am not sure that under voting is an issue in US national elections, where I had voted more times for presidents than I have done so here). I suggested PDI for wider reach. The opinion article could be on the phenomenon of under voting, the math on the VP votes, the Marcos complaint, and your views regarding the issue.

The measure of how democratic a democracy is—is how democratic local government is. The local government is more than just the government closest to the people; it’s the practical school of government—making men and women citizens, teaching them the basic skills, values and routines demanded of a citizen in a democracy.

I think one low-hanging but high value fruit that can be utilized to democratize local government is e-governance. The problem in the Philippines—and in many new democracies forged during and after the industrial revolution—is that the old “public squares” that helped grant citizens in the West the power to hold their rulers accountable (Gutenberg, mass media in general) have been co-opted. The newspaper, radio and television may have caught the noble off guard—but not the principalia who—unwittingly guranteed free rein to adapt to the FORM of democracy in the Commonwealth—has grown with them. Yet, with the rapid increase of Filipino internet users (since 2009, exponential), the widespread adaption of smartphones and the advent of social media—there is now a possibility of a new “public square” to which the dynastic elite are not inoculated.

Duterte—and unfortunately, Marcos—are proof of the power of this new “public square”.

In concrete terms—REQUIRE every LGU have a website and a page on Facebook and GURANTEE that these adhere to set standards of TRANSPARENCY (has all information needed), RESPONSIVENESS (all queries are given prompt standards replies, data is regularly updated) and EASE of USE (data is easily located, usage of VERNACULAR). With such measures—perhaps obscure Citizen Charters and bidding documents may reach the attention of the public.

With DICT already in law, perhaps…

DICT and the work of DOST-ASTI (which will be part of DICT, the details of what will be part of it are very important) to create a government portal are a significant part, LGPMS also.

There is already an anti-dynasty law in place for Sangguniang Kabataan, I have seen…

At local level, some degree of Swiss-style “town square” direct democracy might help – start with the barangay if possible. Make it possible to impeach local officials by plebiscite??? Impunity and abuse also start a barangay captain and mayor level, put checks there???

From over here: the Bavarian Interior Ministry has a Complaints Office where local people can file complaints against their respective mayors – I know a lady who works there….

Most good things and most issues are local, fix that first before the big stuff like federalism.

Just coming back from visiting Mulanay Quezon,the hometown of my dad.It is just a small town,but A lot has changed since my last visit almost 8 years ago,the roads going to it are smoother,more stores,more business establishment, The problem is the traffic from the Santa Cruzan in each barangay using the highway,now the seven hour trip to Manila will be nine hours or more. Counter flow,the more the merrier.

Duterte must ban Santa Cruzan.(half-joke)

Santa Cruzans are awaited with excitement where it’s still done in towns like yours, time to parade in main roads, the town’s young beauties and dudes. In mine, a first class municipality, such annual has been replaced by my parish’s proclamation of the Ulirang Ina (inspired by the Caring Mama Mary) from a bunch of nominees (no parade involved) on the last Saturday of May. Traditions like such promote community across all classes. Too bad, Santa Cruzans come with a knot .

It’s the funeral causing traffic that frustrate me as they go on the main road, no less; 3 in a week usually on a Tuesday, Friday n Saturday between 8 n 10AM. I calm myself down by thinking it’s the ‘yumao’s’ last trip already and what if it’s me being the one on the carriage. Siempre, no scheduled trips for me at such times, if I can help it. Have funerals within BLUE lanes only? 😇

A paradigm shift must happen, if pageantry and not solemnity is what they are after then they just wakk through eskinitas or side roads,with one doing video and live streaming. Then a giant screen for the audience in just one place of their choice. Not outside their homes and cause more traffic.

The funerals are already undergoing a paradigm shift,because people cremate their departed loved ones.

For fiestas,no main road blocking just eat in the side roads,those with houses on the main road must invite people to eat inside their homes.

I agree. Shift in paradigm from ‘shallow’ to ‘deep’; from ‘form n style’ to ‘substance’; from ‘loud’ to ‘modulate’. Sadly, for now, only the minority might be the only one going for such. There is supposedly a Catholic Church’s guide on Cremation. Expedience is not IT, yet. I might have googled Catholic Church view on cremation.

A very good read, karl. Thanks.

Is it just me, or is this photo of a barangay hall really fancy, the ones I visited down south were additions to bigger neighborhood chapels… and was more or less a place to hang-out and play pool. 😉

(p.s.~ Is your avatar photo a picture of some Filipino movie star? or a male model?)

re Community Policing, I would argue that maybe there’s a little bit too much affinity at the barangay level, ie. for community policing to work there has to be a balance of the subjective and objective approaches, too much affinity tends to hamper the whole process.

So I would only add a bit of social engineering, getting others of the same ethno-linguistic group but ones from a separate locales, then add in totally different people from different regions, and languages (figure out the exact optimum ratio) and focus on objectivity.

Then on top of that an IA, internal affairs (PNP/NBI), that keeps audit of police officers’ money & property, to ensure cops aren’t simply recycling drugs over there (steal from the rich & sell to the poor 😉 ).

Thanks Lance. Joe picked the picture.The Barangay is from the home town of ex president -current congress woman Gloria Arroyo.It is also the hometown of the Governor Pineda.

The picture in the avatar is moi.

About policing,I would not know if the reshuffling of the police force by PE Dutertewould be an extensive one or just full of hot air.

sir i have a question.. what if i post in social media about road which is ruin by the climate change. then our brgy officials get anger and they dont wANT to give brgy cert. to me what should I do? i know it is against on human rights. i have the right to get that cert right? i dont have any criminal offense done.. i am a student for now on

That is difficult to answer. The Barangay is the place for disputes to be resolved but I don’t know the appeal process, and don’t know if any readers have that expertise. My guess is that there is an appeal process within the municipality to raise it above the Barangay level. If you can’t find that, then you may have to seek guidance from an attorney. If you can, check back to see if anyone else has responded to your question. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. Best of luck in getting the case resolved.

sir i need a reply po.

Sorry for the late reply. I think most of what Joe said is correct.

Every job seeker needs the barangay clearance as a prerequisite of a police clearance.

First if you are sure that you are on the right then, If you have a problem withyour baranggay official then look for a councilor in the municipality who would listen to you. Next step is the mayor and the congressman.

I know this is hard then if they still make it hard you then go to the public attorney’s office.

I am sure there are many netizens who may have the same problem. Try fb group messenger chat.

Is the first lady of the elected barangay captain, can appoint positions to the respective kagawad or local counselor. is she liable to any decision made in barangay?

Short answer, she is not supposed to.

You do mean the unelected spouse right? I am no lawyer, but why would he/she have such powers. And we know nepotism is frowned upon but relatives still get appointed or hired. If so we can file a complaint to the Sangguniang baranggay once the need arises. ps. I am no lawyer, I am just trying my best to answer your question.

I would like to ask if a barangay secretary is engage such immorality..will it be a legal basis for him her to step down from serving as a barangay official?

I found an article on how you could file a complaint against a baranggay officcial.

http://www.manilatimes.net/where-to-file-complaint-vs-barangay-head/255095/

Where to file complaint vs barangay head

The Manila TimesApril 9, 2016 Dear PAO, I am a resident of a certain barangay. I know that our Barangay Chairman is collecting fees from drivers of delivery vans who are parking in front of our Barangay Hall. These fees are not substantiated by receipts; thus, we do not have any record to account the same. I had a heated argument with the Brgy. Chairman last week regarding this matter including all anomalous transactions entered by him so I am now planning to file a complaint against him. Where will I file the complaint? King

Dear King, Your complaint against the Barangay Chairman can be lodged at the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod exercising jurisdiction over your area. This is in consonance with the provision of Section 61 (c) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7160 which states that: “a complaint against any elective barangay official shall be filed before the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan concerned whose decision shall be final and executory.”

Section 60 of same law also provides that, an elective local official may be disciplined, suspended, or removed from office on any of the following grounds:

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a) Disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines;

b) Culpable violation of the Constitution;

c) Dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence, or dereliction of duty;

d) Commission of any offense involving moral turpitude or an offense punishable by at least prision mayor;

e) Abuse of authority;

f) Unauthorized absence for fifteen (15) consecutive working days, except in the case of members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, sangguniang bayan, and sangguniang barangay;

g) Application for, acquisition of, foreign citizenship or residence or the status of an immigrant of another country; and

h) Such other grounds as may be provided in this Code and other laws.

An elected local official may be removed from office on any of the grounds enumerated above by order of the proper court.

Please be guided by the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Barangay Sanggunian of Don Mariano Marcos vs Punong Barangay Martinez, (G. R. No. 170626, March 3, 2008), where the high court said that:

“As the law stands, Section 61 of the Local Government Code provides for the procedure for the filing of an administrative case against an erring elective barangay official before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan. However, the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan cannot order the removal of an erring elective barangay official from office,as the courts are exclusively vested with this power under Section 60 of the Local Government Code. Thus, if the acts allegedly committed by the barangay official are of a grave nature and, if found guilty, would merit the penalty of removal from office, the case should be filed with the regional trial court. Once the court assumes jurisdiction, it retains jurisdiction over the case even if it would be subsequently apparent during the trial that a penalty less than removal from office is appropriate. On the other hand, the most extreme penalty that the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan may impose on the erring elective barangay official is suspension; if it deems that the removal of the official from service is warranted, then it can resolve that the proper charges be filed in court.” (Emphasis supplied)

Again, we find it necessary to mention that this opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or elaborated.

We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected]

The Sangguniang Barangay appoints the Baranggay Secretary, so complaints go to them.

http://www.dilg.gov.ph/legal-opinions/Barangay-Secretary-appointment-qualifications-power-and-duties/17

Sorry, I am not a lawyer so my verbiage is not technical.

The punong barangay appoints the Barangay secretary, the Sanggunian acts on the appointment.

Since I get questions about the Barangay, Ibam dropping this link about the training program of newly elected barangay officials.

http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-Training-for-newly-elected-barangay-officials-should-be-strictly-on-site/NC-2018-1149

The federal/presidential form is now being pushed and the DILG’s approach is a per barangay information drive.

http://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Federalism-whats-in-it-for-you-DILG-going-around-the-barangays-to-explain/NC-2017-1156

May I interest you with the Barangay Justice System.

Click to access Katarungang%20Pambarangay%20Handbook_0.pdf

http://cruzmarcelo.com/2018/01/04/philippine-supreme-court-issues-rules-community-legal-aid-service/

Supreme Court Issues Rules on Community Legal Aid Service

The Philippine Supreme Court En Banc issued Administrative Matter No. 17-03-09-SC otherwise known as the Community Legal Aid Service Rule (“Rule”).

Beginning with those who will pass the 2017 Bar Examinations, lawyers who will be admitted to the Philippine Bar and have signed the Roll of Attorneys for that particular year (“Covered Lawyers”) are now obliged to render one hundred twenty (120) hours of pro bono legal aid services to qualified parties. The Rule was promulgated to give meaning to the guarantee of access to adequate legal assistance under Article III, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Pro Bono Legal Aid Services shall include the following:

Representation of qualified litigants, as defined, in the trial courts in civil and criminal cases and quasi-judicial bodies in administrative cases, including proceedings for mediation, voluntary or compulsory arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution; Legal counselling, rendering assistance in contract negotiations and drafting of related legal documents, including memoranda of law and other similar documents that are provided to the client. Drafting may include policy work involving legal research and advocacy; Developmental Legal Assistance, consisting of rights awareness, capacity-building, and training in basic human rights, documentation, and affidavit-making, rendered in public interest cases, including legal assistance rendered by identified Public Interest Law Groups; Legal services provided as part of employment in the judiciary, executive, or legislative branches of government shall be considered sufficient compliance with this Rule, provided that the covered lawyer must already be in government service at least six months before admission into the Bar, provided further, that the legal services provided are substantive, as certified by the Heads of Office; and Legal services provided to marginalized sectors and identities, such as but not limited to: (a) urban poor; (b) workers/laborers; (c) overseas foreign workers; (d) children in conflict with the law; and (e) persons involved in gender issues.

That’s great! Maybe that will help some develop a conscience and moral principles based on giving.

Even if I think 120 hours is too short, everyone has a right to earn. It is a good start to start with giving, more good deeds will follow.

120 hours is three 40 hour weeks, which is pretty demanding, I think. Some will be hard-pressed to organize that I suspect. Maybe there will be some new organizations popping up to schedule the opportunities for attorneys, to make it easier.

The top 10 bar passers are sought after the top law firms, they can rest assured. As for the next 50 the not so top but moneyed firms may be after them. As for the rest an NGO hopefully will be tailor made for them. Right now there is FLAG or Free legal assistance group, I think, maybe another one like them. The Public Attorney’s office maybe after Acosta can still be a respectable office.

Ah, right, FLAG. They ought to thrive now.

I have seen this filed before the one below is the one filed by Senator Gordon. Instead of jailing tambays, why not let them do community service.

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COURT TO REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU OF IMPRISONMENT FOR THE PENALTIES OF ARRESTO MENOR AND ARRESTO MAYOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER 5, TITLE 3, BOOK I OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Revised Penal Code provides for various crimes with varying penalties depending on the crime committed and the circumstances surrounding such crime. Many are in prison for committing non-violent or minor crimes punishable by the light penalty of arresto menor (1 day to 30 days] or the correctional penalty of arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months], as the case may be. For instance, in case a public officer abandons his office to the detriment of public service as provided for in Art. 238 (Abandonment of office or position] of the Revised Penal Code, the said public officer shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor. Furthermore, in cases wherein any person who shall resist or seriously disobey any person in authority, he or she shall likewise suffer the penalty of arresto mayor. However, if such is committed to an agent of a person in authority which is not serious in nature, he or she shall suffer the penalty of arresto menor, as provided for in Art 151 (Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person] of the Revised Penal Code. By using imprisonment as an answer to all crimes committed by such individuals, not only is the issue of safety in the community not addressed in any sustainable manner, but the cycle of impoverishment, loss of jobs, weakening of employment chances, damage to relationships, worsening of psychological and mental illnesses, and increased drug use is perpetuated. There are also many health risks associated with overcrowded prisons, including the spread of infectious disease, such as Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV]. In many countries violence is a common element of prison life, especially where there is overcrowding.1 In line with restorative justice, this bill proposes to introduce the alternative of community service wherein socially valuable work is performed without pay, and is required as part of a criminal sentence, especially one that does not include incarceration. Thus, this bill aims to rehabilitate the offender, the victim, and the community and thereby decongesting jails by authorizing the court, in its discretion^g,fequire community service in lieu of service in jail for offenses punishable by arresto menor and arresto mayor.

Good thinking, especially considering the horrid conditions in Philippine jails. I think there ought to be a general amnesty program if jail conditions are not cleaned up in one year. Some enterprising senator should propose that. The current conditions amount to torture.

The most congested jail system is a ticking time bomb for an out break.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/11/jail-congestion-at-600-spread-of-infectious-diseases-among-inmates-up-by-40-bjmp/

http://says.com/ph/imho/here-are-4-ways-on-how-ph-can-resolve-its-inhumane-prison-conditions

The author has come up with four solutions to wit: 1) Releasing of the elderly. 2) One year off the sentence for enrolling in a drug rehab facility. 3) More good behavior parolees. 4) Pre-Trial release. No jail unless convicted. (I think no more need for bail)

Good ideas. I wish something would actually get done. It is insane to see the photos and think that they are just piling more people into the prisons.

I hope the LGUs would respond to the appeal of the DILG for donation land for prisons. The BJMP has budget to build jails but no budget for land aquisition. I hope they send their concerns to DBM for future budget allocations.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/30/dilg-usec-hinlo-appeals-for-lot-donors-for-additional-jail-facilities/

This is a great blog. Just stumbled on it. I hope to participate and contribute a piece on occasion.–Manny Valdehuesa

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I would like to thank Giancarlo Angulo for taking over administration of the blog to keep it available as a historical resource and to free me to pursue other interests. He is now “the boss of the blog”, haha. I expect to contribute articles from time to time. JA

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Barangay Community Service to make changes

to make an impact to our community and promote the scouting movement and motivate the citizen around it to have changes and always clean their neighborhood.

we execute our project within our community with the help of the Chairman of our neighborhood first we make a plan how we execute the project and who will benefits the said project we also involved the youth to ignite their scouting heart

We have learned to take care of our community and protect the environment because it is better to see the environment clean and green and well reserved for the future and next generation 

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 129 great examples of community service projects.

Extracurriculars

Are you interested in performing community service? Do you want examples of service projects you can do? Community service is a great way to help others and improve your community, and it can also help you gain skills and experience to include on your resume and college applications.

Read on for dozens of community service ideas to help you get started volunteering.

What Is Community Service?

Community service is work done by a person or group of people that benefits others. It is often done near the area where you live, so your own community reaps the benefits of your work. You do not get paid to perform community service, but volunteer your time.

Community service can help many different groups of people: children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, even animals and the environment. Community service is often organized through a local group, such as a place of worship, school, or non-profit organization, but you can also start your own community service projects.

Many people participate in community service because they enjoy helping others and improving their community. Some students are required to do community service in order to graduate high school or to receive certain honors. Some adults are also ordered by a judge to complete a certain number of community service hours.

Why Should You Participate in Community Service?

There are numerous benefits to participating in community service, both for yourself and others. Below are some of the most important benefits of volunteering:

• Gives you a way to help others
• Helps improve your community
• Can help strengthen your resume and college applications
• Can be a way to meet new friends
• Often results in personal growth
• Gives you a way to gain work experience and learn more about certain jobs

How Should You Use This List?

This list of over one hundred community service examples is organized by category , so if you're particularly interested in working with, say, children or animals, you can easily find community service activities more related to your interests.

In order to use this list most effectively, read through it and make note of any community service ideas that match your interests and that you may want to participate in. Some considerations to keep in mind are:

Is there a specific group of people or cause you are passionate about? Look for projects that relate to your passion and interests. You may also just want to perform particular community service activities that allow you to do hobbies you enjoy, like baking or acting, and that's fine too.

Perhaps you don't have enough time to regularly devote to community service. In that case, it may be better to look for opportunities that only occur once or sporadically, such as planning special events or helping build a house.

Some people prefer to participate in community service activities that have a quantifiable impact, for example, activities where you know the specific number of kids you tutored, dollars you raised, or cans of food you collected. This is in contrast to activities that don't have such clear numbers, such as creating a garden or serving as a volunteer lifeguard. Some people prefer quantifiable activities because they feel they look stronger on college applications, or because they simply enjoy knowing their exact impact on the community.

Many community service activities can help you gain skills. These skills can range from teaching to medicine to construction and more. If there is a particular skill you'd like to learn for future classes, jobs, or just out of personal interest, you may want to see if there is a community service activity that helps you learn that skill.

List of Community Service Examples

Below I've listed over 100 community service ideas to get you started with brainstorming.

General Ideas

Donate or raise money for your local Red Cross

Organize a community blood drive

Send cards to soldiers serving overseas

For your next birthday, ask for charitable donations instead of gifts

Hold a bake sale for your favorite charity

Read books or letters to a person who is visually impaired

Organize a wheelchair basketball team

Participate in a charity race

Organize an event or parade for Memorial Day

Volunteer to help at a charity auction

Participate in National Youth Service Day in April

Contact a tree farm about donating Christmas trees to nursing homes, hospitals, or to families who can't afford to buy their own

Collect unused makeup and perfume to donate to a center for abused women

Help register people to vote

Organize a car wash and donate the profits to charity

• Help deliver meals and gifts to patients at a local hospital
• Write articles / give speeches advocating financial literarcy. First you should learn about the topics themselves, like calculating housing costs, or understanding personal loans, and then give presentations on these topics.

Helping Children and Schools

Tutor children during or after school

Donate stuffed animals to children in hospitals

Organize games and activities for children in hospitals or who are visiting hospitalized relatives

Knit or crochet baby blankets to be donated to hospitals or homeless shelters

Collect baby clothes and supplies to donate to new parents

Organize a Special Olympics event for children and teenagers

Sponsor a bike-a-thon and give away bike safety gear, like helmets and knee pads , as prizes

Collect used sports equipment to donate to families and after-school programs

Volunteer at a summer camp for children who have lost a parent

Sponsor a child living in a foreign country, either on your own or as part of a group

Coach a youth sports team

Put on performances for children in hospitals

Give free music lessons to schoolchildren

Become a volunteer teen crisis counselor

Organize a summer reading program to encourage kids to read

Organize an Easter egg hunt for neighborhood children

Create a new game for children to play

Organize events to help new students make friends

Babysit children during a PTA meeting

Organize a reading hour for children at a local school or library

Donate used children's books to a school library

Work with the local health department to set up an immunization day or clinic to immunize children against childhood diseases

• Volunteer to help with Vacation Bible School or other religious camps

Helping Senior Citizens

Read to residents at a nursing home

Deliver groceries and meals to elderly neighbors

Teach computer skills to the elderly

Drive seniors to doctor appointments

Mow an elderly neighbor's lawn

Host a bingo night for nursing home residents

Host a holiday meal for senior citizens

Make birthday cards for the elderly

Donate and decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home

Organize a family day for residents of a retirement home and relatives to play games together

Ask residents of a retirement home to tell you about their lives

Pick up medicine for an elderly neighbor

Perform a concert or play at a senior center

Help elderly neighbors clean their homes and organize their belongings

Rake leaves, shovel snow, or wash windows for a senior citizen

• Deliver cookies to a homebound senior citizen

Helping Animals and the Environment

Take care of cats and dogs at an animal shelter

Clean up a local park

Raise money to provide a bulletproof vest for a police dog

Plant a tree for Arbor Day

Place a bird feeder and bird fountain in your backyard

Start a butterfly garden in your community

Sponsor a recycling contest

Grow flowers in your backyard then give bouquets to hospital patients or people who are housebound

Help create a new walking trail at a nature center or park

Update the signs along a nature trail

Adopt an acre of rainforest

Help train service dogs

Participate in the cleanup of a local river, pond, or lake

Foster animals that shelters don't have space for

Organize a spay and neuter your pet program

Care for a neighbor's pet while they are away

Sponsor an animal at your local zoo

Train your pet to be a therapy animal and bring it to hospitals or nursing homes

Build and set up a bird house

Organize a carpool to reduce car emissions

Campaign for more bike lanes in your town

Volunteer at a nature camp and teach kids about the environment

Test the water quality of a lake or river near you

• Plant native flowers or plants along highways

Helping the Hungry and/or Homeless

Build a house with Habitat for Humanity

Donate your old clothes

Volunteer at a soup kitchen

Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that collects that and distributes them to people in need

Donate non-perishable food to a food bank

Donate blankets to a homeless shelter

Host a Thanksgiving dinner for people who may not be able to afford their own

Offer to babysit or nanny for a family in need

Make "care kits" with shampoo , toothbrushes , combs , etc. to donate to homeless shelters

Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter

Collect grocery coupons to give to a local food bank

Help repair or paint a local homeless shelter

Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter

Help organize and sort donations at a homeless shelter

Babysit children while their parents look for jobs

Become a Big Buddy for children at a homeless shelter

Take homeless children on outings

Bake a batch of cookies or loaf of bread and deliver it to a soup kitchen

Build flower boxes for Habitat for Humanity houses

Organize a winter clothes drive to collect coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to be donated

Make first aid kits for homeless shelters

Reducing Crime and Promoting Safety

Volunteer at a police station or firehouse

Become a certified lifeguard and volunteer at a local pool or beach

Paint over graffiti in your neighborhood

Organize a self-defense workshop

Organize a drug-free campaign

Sponsor a drug-free post-prom event

Start or join a neighborhood watch program

Create and distribute a list of hotlines for people who might need help

Teach a home-alone safety class for children

Create a TV or radio public service announcement against drug and alcohol use

Become CPR certified

• Volunteer as a crossing guard for an elementary school

Promoting Community Enhancement

Paint park benches

Donate used books to your local library

Become a tour guide at your local museum

Repaint community fences

Plant flowers in bare public areas

Organize a campaign to raise money to buy and install new playground equipment for a park

Participate in or help organize a community parade

Clean up vacant lot

Produce a neighborhood newspaper

Campaign for more lighting along poorly lit streets

Create a newcomers group in your neighborhood to help welcome new families

Petition your town leaders to build more drinking fountains and public restrooms

Volunteer to clean up trash at a community event

Adopt a local highway or road and clean up trash along it

Help fix or raise funds to repair a run-down playground

Clean up after a natural disaster

Now that you know what your options are for community service, you can take the following steps to start getting involved:

#1: Look over your interests: Which activities seem most appealing to you? Were they mostly in one particular category, like children or the environment? If so, that's a good starting place for choosing specific organizations to contact.

#2: Figure out how much time you can devote to community service: Are you available for two hours every week? Are you not free on a regular basis but can volunteer for an entire weekend now and then?

Think about transportation as well and how you'll be able to get to different locations. Knowing this information will help you choose which community service projects to pursue, and it's helpful information for volunteer coordinators to know.

#3: Do some research to see what projects you can do in your community: Check at your school, place of worship, or town hall for more information on volunteering. You can also contact the place where you'd like to perform your community service, such as a particular animal shelter or nursing home, and ask if they take volunteers.

#4: Start volunteering! This list ranges from small projects that you can complete on your own in a few hours, to much larger projects that will take more time and people. If you find a project you can start on your own, do it!

If you want to do a project where you'll need more resources or people, check around your community to see if a similar program already exists that you can join. If not, don't be afraid to start your own! Many organizations welcome new volunteers and community service projects.

Additional Information

Considering doing volunteer work in another country? Read our guide on volunteer abroad programs and learn whether or not you should participate in one.

Are you in college or will be starting soon? Extracurriculars are one of the best parts of college! Check out our guide to learn which extracurricular activities you should consider in college .

Did you know that you can use your community service work to help pay for college? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to win community service scholarships.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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10 Examples of Great Community Service Projects

Planning a great community service project doesn’t have to be a ton of work. There are plenty of ways you can improve your community with groups big and small. Here are ten ways!

1. Collect Food

Contact your local food bank and they will provide you with the necessary information and materials to have a food drive. For example, the Food Bank of Delaware provides a food drive organization kit, most wanted food list, and more. Encourage people to donate their favorite food items. You can even offer prizes to individuals who donate the most!

2. Recycling Program

Starting a recycling program is a big task but a worthwhile one. Here’s a great guide to get you started. When you recycle, those items can be turned into amazing things, like the Green Guardian™ coat , made from recycled PET plastic bottles.

3. Community Garden

A community garden is a great way to bond with your community and provide healthy food. You may be able to identify a sponsor to help get your garden started. Consider making a garden just for children, so they can learn about the process of gardening. It is a great educational opportunity.

A community cleanup will improve the look of your neighborhood or park and inspire people to keep the space looking great. Hosting a potluck after is a wonderful way to celebrate this community achievement!

5. Blood drive

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. By hosting a blood drive, you and your community can make a real difference. The American Red Cross provides planning assistance, recruitment tools, equipment, supplies, and a trained staff to screen and collect donations safely.

6. Neighborhood Watch Group

Starting or joining a neighborhood watch group is easy. Once you recruit as many neighbors as possible you can contact your local law enforcement agency to schedule a meeting to get additional information. Holding regular meetings and events is another way to bring your community together.

7. Give New Coats to Kids in Need

Starting an Operation Warm coat program for your local low-income school is a great way to serve your community. You select the school, set your fundraising goal, and hand out the brand new coats yourselves. This is a wonderful way to strengthen your community ties while helping local children stay warm. Operation Warm offers a Partner Portal , a one-stop website built just for Operation Warm community partners. It gives you access to everything you need to run a successful coat program.

If you're looking to volunteer for Operation Warm rather than start your own program, we also offer individual volunteer opportunities!

8. Community Newsletter

Organizing a community newsletter is a fun way to get the word out and get people involved in activities in your neighborhood and community. Here is a great comprehensive guide to get you started.

9. Volunteer

Volunteering is a rewarding experience that brings people of all ages together for a good cause. Get involved with a great organization like Habitat for Humanity or Operation Warm .

Are you into sports? Do you spend most of your free time on the field or watching your favorite team? Become a volunteer coach or referee with a local youth team. Your town recreation department, Boys and Girls Club or Y is probably looking for volunteers, and they should be so lucky to have someone with your expertise!

Interested in providing brand new coats for kids in your community? We would love for you to join us as an Operation Warm Community Partner!

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Essay on Barangay

Students are often asked to write an essay on Barangay in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Barangay

What is a barangay.

A Barangay is the smallest political unit in the Philippines. It is like a tiny town or village. Each Barangay has its own leaders. These leaders help to manage the community and make sure everything runs smoothly.

The Role of a Barangay

The Barangay has many roles. It helps to maintain peace and order. It also provides basic services to the people living there. These services can include health care, education, and waste management.

Leadership in a Barangay

The Barangay is led by a Barangay Captain. This person is chosen by the people of the Barangay. The Captain works with other officials to help the Barangay.

Importance of a Barangay

Barangays are very important. They help to make sure that the needs of the people are met. They also help to build a sense of community among the people living there.

250 Words Essay on Barangay

A Barangay is a small community in the Philippines. It is the smallest administrative division in the country. It’s like a tiny town or village. Each Barangay has a leader, who is called a Barangay Captain. They are in charge of making sure the Barangay runs smoothly.

The Role of the Barangay

The Barangay plays a big part in the lives of the people who live there. It helps to keep the peace and order. The Barangay also helps with health and safety. For example, they might organize clean-ups or health check-ups. They also help with problems or conflicts between neighbors.

The Importance of the Barangay

The Barangay is important because it is close to the people. It is easier to get help or solve problems at the Barangay level. For instance, if there is a fire or a flood, the Barangay can respond quickly.

Barangay and Education

The Barangay also plays a role in education. They might have a Barangay Day Care Center for young children. They also support activities for students, like sports or arts festivals.

In conclusion, the Barangay is a small but important part of the Philippines. It helps keep the peace, supports health and safety, and plays a role in education. The Barangay is a great example of how communities can work together to make life better for everyone.

500 Words Essay on Barangay

A Barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines. It is a local term that translates to “village” or “district”. A Barangay is a part of a city or municipality. It is like a neighborhood in other countries. There are about 42,000 Barangays in the Philippines. Each one has its own leaders and officials.

Role of a Barangay

A Barangay plays an important role in the community. It helps in managing the daily life of the people living there. It takes care of things like cleaning the streets, maintaining peace, and providing services to the people. It also helps in solving small problems and disputes among its residents.

Barangay Officials

Each Barangay has a set of officials. The head is called the Barangay Captain. There are also Barangay Councilors. They help the Barangay Captain in making decisions and plans. These officials are chosen by the people living in the Barangay through an election. They serve for a term of three years.

Services Provided by a Barangay

A Barangay provides many services to its residents. It helps in keeping peace and order. It assists in resolving conflicts. It also helps in maintaining cleanliness and orderliness. Some Barangays have health centers, day care centers, and sports facilities. These services help in making life better for the people living in the Barangay.

Barangay and Filipino Culture

The Barangay is a big part of Filipino culture. It is a place where people know each other. It is where they share their joys and sorrows. It is where they celebrate festivals and traditions. It is a place that helps in preserving the Filipino way of life.

In conclusion, a Barangay is more than just a district or a village. It is a small community that plays a big role in the lives of the people in the Philippines. It helps in maintaining peace and order, providing services, resolving conflicts, and preserving the Filipino culture. It is a vital part of the Filipino society.

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Spatial Variations of the Activity of 137 Cs and the Contents of Heavy Metals and Petroleum Products in the Polluted Soils of the City of Elektrostal

• DEGRADATION, REHABILITATION, AND CONSERVATION OF SOILS
• Open access
• Published: 15 June 2022
• Volume 55 , pages 840–848, ( 2022 )

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• D. N. Lipatov 1 ,
• V. A. Varachenkov 1 ,
• D. V. Manakhov 1 ,
• M. M. Karpukhin 1 &
• S. V. Mamikhin 1  

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The levels of specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms (1 M ammonium acetate extraction) of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb) and petroleum products were studied in the upper soil horizon of urban landscapes of the city of Elektrostal under conditions of local radioactive and chemical contamination were studied. In the soils within a short radius (0–100 m) around the heavy engineering plant, the specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms of Pb, Cu, and Zn were increased. The lognormal distribution law of 137 Cs was found in the upper (0–10 cm) soil layer; five years after the radiation accident, the specific activity of 137 Cs varied from 6 to 4238 Bq/kg. The coefficients of variation increased with an increase in the degree of soil contamination in the following sequence: Co < Ni < petroleum products < Cr < 137 Cs < Zn < Pb < Cu ranging from 50 to 435%. Statistically significant direct correlation was found between the specific activity of 137 Cs and the contents of mobile forms of Pb, Cu, and Zn in the upper horizon of urban soils, and this fact indicated the spatial conjugacy of local spots of radioactive and polymetallic contamination in the studied area. It was shown that the specific activity of 137 Cs, as well as the content of heavy metals and petroleum products in the upper layer (0–10 cm) of the soils disturbed in the course of decontamination, earthwork and reclamation is reduced.

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INTRODUCTION

Contaminants migrate and accumulate in urban ecosystems under the impact of both natural and technogenic factors. The processes of technogenic migration of 137 Cs are most pronounced in radioactively contaminated territories. It was found in urboecological studies that the intensity of sedimentation of aerosol particles containing radionuclides and heavy metals is determined by the types of the surfaces of roofs, walls, roads, lawns, and parks and by their position within the urban wind field [ 12 , 26 ]. Traffic in the cities results in significant transport of dust and associated contaminants and radionuclides [ 15 , 24 ]. During decontamination measures in the areas of Chernobyl radioactive trace, not only the decrease in the level of contamination but also the possibility of secondary radioactive contamination because of the transportation of contaminated soil particles by wind or water, or anthropogenic transfer of transferring of ground were observed [ 5 , 6 ]. Rainstorm runoff and hydrological transport of dissolved and colloidal forms of 137 Cs can result in the accumulation of this radionuclide in meso- and microdepressions, where sedimentation takes place [ 10 , 16 ]. Different spatial distribution patterns of 137 Cs in soils of particular urban landscapes were found in the city of Ozersk near the nuclear fuel cycle works [ 17 ]. Natural character of 137 Cs migration in soils of Moscow forest-parks and a decrease in its specific activity in industrial areas have been revealed [ 10 ]. Determination of the mean level and parameters of spatial variations of 137 Cs in soils is one of primary tasks of radioecological monitoring of cities, including both unpolluted (background) and contaminated territories.

Emissions and discharges from numerous sources of contamination can cause the accumulation of a wide range of toxicants in urban soils: heavy metals (HMs), oil products (OPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other chemical substances. Soil contamination by several groups of toxicants is often observed in urban landscapes [ 20 , 23 ] because of the common contamination source or close pathways of the migration of different contaminants. A comprehensive analysis of contamination of urban soils by radionuclides and heavy metals has been performed in some studies [ 21 , 25 ]. The determination of possible spatial interrelationships between radioactive and chemical contaminations in urban soils is an important problem in urban ecology.

A radiation accident took place in the Elektrostal heavy engineering works (EHEW) in April 2013: a capacious source of 137 Cs entered the smelt furnace, and emission of radioactive aerosols from the aerating duct into the urban environment took place. The activity of molten source was estimated at about 1000–7000 Ci [ 14 ]. The area of contamination in the territory of the plant reached 7500 m 2 . However, radioactive aerosols affected a much larger area around the EHEW, including Krasnaya and Pervomaiskaya streets, and reached Lenin Prospect.

Geochemical evaluation of contamination of the upper soil horizon in the city of Elektrostal was carried out in 1989–1991. This survey indicated the anomalies of concentrations of wolfram, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, and other heavy metals related to accumulation of alloying constituent and impurities of non-ferrous metals in the emissions of steelmaking works [ 19 ].

The aim of our work was to determine the levels of specific activity of 137 Cs, concentrations of mobile forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and Pb) and oil products in the upper soil horizons in different urban landscapes of the city of Elektrostal under the conditions of local radioactive and chemical contamination.

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D. N. Lipatov, V. A. Varachenkov, D. V. Manakhov, M. M. Karpukhin & S. V. Mamikhin

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Lipatov, D.N., Varachenkov, V.A., Manakhov, D.V. et al. Spatial Variations of the Activity of 137 Cs and the Contents of Heavy Metals and Petroleum Products in the Polluted Soils of the City of Elektrostal. Eurasian Soil Sc. 55 , 840–848 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060072

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Received : 21 October 2021

Revised : 22 December 2021

Accepted : 30 December 2021

Published : 15 June 2022

Issue Date : June 2022

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229322060072

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