LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – What’s lacking in Barangay Poblacion South in Lagawe for so many years is a day care center.
In a matter of five months or so, the Poblacion South Day Care Center at purok Bahawit shall make history as the village’s first-ever day care center. Bahawit is one of the town’s most popular destinations, as visitors often found themselves enjoying the amenities of a local resort. Barangay Poblacion South has four puroks.
A two-story building for the day care center and the Poblacion South Barangay Council’s community-related operations as a multi-purpose office is expected to be completed by June of this year.
The project received funding from the national government, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The Poblacion South Day Care Center is one of the many projects undertaken or supported by the DSWD Baguio City regional office.
The barangay council allotted PhP331,000 for the basement portion of the facility from its 2019 internal revenue allotment (IRA) share. On the other hand, the lot was acquired at PhP100, 000 from its share of the 2012 IRA.
“The partnership between the national government, specifically the regional office of the DSWD, and the Poblacion South Barangay Council reflects the commitment to jumpstart well-meaning projects that matter most to our people,” Punong Barangay Chresente Da-ang told the ZigZag Weekly.
The people’s future, most especially the young, is clearly Punong Barangay Da-ang’s concern.
True to his commitment to champion the welfare of youngsters, Punong Barangay Da-ang pushed hard for the construction of the day care center as well as advanced the cause of organizing learning programs for the youth.
Undoubtedly, the priorities were set in the right order by Punong Barangay Da-ang.
According to Punong Barangay Da-ang, the key objective of the day care program is to ensure that a child who wants to learn will have access to pre-school education.
The day care system has been described in so many ways. Most aptly, perhaps, it involves taking care of the young to look their best, feel their best and perform to the best of his or her ability.
Educating Ifugao folks on the vitality of day care center still likely to take many years through public awareness campaigns and drawing on the resources of the government.
The barangay council should pay closer attention to the interests of children. Thus, the need for a day care center in the village arises. Though villagers are bombarded with pronouncements of barangay council officials that they are for the promotion of the well-being of children, nothing can deliver the message more the way than putting up a day care center in the barangay.
Once a day care center operates, lives of kids will never be the same and they are showered with hope for the future.
Today, day care centers in Metro Manila and Baguio City, offer refreshing avenue for
young ones who yearn for creativity inside the classroom.
Indeed, a truly worthy investment in Ifugao, one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, is one that would ensure a brighter tomorrow and comfort for the young, knowing very well that they are taken care of by competent, caring and responsible mentors.
A comprehensive public education and awareness program on the day care system should be undertaken by Punong Barangay Da-ang and his officials at the council to instill consciousness among the populace.
Gone are the days of negative mentality of the punong barangay (village chieftain) of constructing waiting sheds. This brings folks at the grassroots level to the brazenness of mishandling of public funds. After all, construction of waiting sheds has been described as a waste of energy and resources. It’s stupid, to say the least.
The reality of the mess punong barangays in recent past have made of scarce public funds for the construction of useless waiting sheds hit Juan de la Cruz like a ton of bricks.
It is clear as day that there’s no need to waste vital public funds for the construction of waiting sheds.
Wise expenditures never go wrong. Huge expenses during the “Kulpi” and “Gotad” parades are not making any dent on the poverty reduction program. Neither invests in “baratillo” or “tiangge” side events. Low sales during trade fairs- where second-hand clothes commonly known as “ukay-ukay” and street foods such as fishball and kikiam are exhibited, have shown it can’t be done. Instead, building additional day care centers is where the story of good governance begins. While resources are not ample at barangay councils, Ifugao folks have a good number of kind-hearted individuals and organizations in the private sector and even the DSWD to tap for funding assistance.
Today, Barangay Poblacion South has produced a new breed of leaders who are molded in good and responsive governance.
Barangay council officials of Poblacion South have been able to promote development. Why can’t the others in remote villages of the town also do it?
Is Punong Barangay Da-ang entertaining a plan to open another day care center in 2021 to add to the one it has by June of this year? Barangay Poblacion South is more self-sufficient than most. Even so, it would be ludicrous to claim that people’s attitude toward having another one is low. Day care centers are often poorly regarded to have significant value by Ifugao folks. It all matters.
Now, many are glad to have once again partnered with a dynamic and competent barangay government head.
Former punong barangay Christopher Pagadut, Da-ang’s predecessor, enjoyed the same distinction. Both are well-loved and highly-respected by their constituents.
Punong Barangay Da-ang is well-known for being responsive to the concerns of the citizenry. He is also recognized for his anticrime initiatives. He has achieved a lot in making Poblacion South number one among other barangays in the province’s first district.
“The barangay council of Poblacion South aims to have healthy, happy and productive citizens through our different programs, projects and activities,” he quipped.
True enough, he is in touch with them by way of grassroots consultations.
Basically, barangay folks here too are fortunate to have him at the helm of the barangay hall’s leadership for Punong Barangay Da-ang has a vision of effective governance and responsible leadership in order to build a quality community that is dynamic, productive, healthy, nurturing and caring, safe and secure and environment-friendly.
It is not hard to make sense of the new brand of leadership Punong Barangay Da-ang has ushered in this part of Ifugao. He empowered people towards a progressive barangay. These days, it is difficult to dispute the contention. At council meetings and other activities, people watched intently his remarks and actions. He usually thinks of what is good for the barangay and people and their best interest. This is the essence of good governance and the people’s inherent right to take part in the decision-making process.
Villagers are once more given another opportunity to see the world of good governance. A good government is the result of the success of its endeavors. Good public servants thrive on their accomplishments. Many are looking forward to this development in the month of January.
For the remaining months of 2020, Barangay Poblacion South needs investments that will last and create jobs to all the people, not just those who are close to the powers-that-be.
This puts an intriguing emphasis on the forthcoming actions of Punong Barangay Da-ang and other council officials. They are kagawads (councilmen) Johnson Guinanoy, Joy Allaga, Ricky Humiding, Michaela Sanchez, Rimando Botuagan, Ricky Tayaban and Gerard Pagadut. Barangay secretary is Jane Dinamling. Barangay treasurer is Ginalyn Pagadut. Jemree Binwag is the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) chairman.
For one, the quality of output is dictated by their passion and love for service. Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Da-ang would dash in and out of the barangay hall making definitive orders: Do the work! Fast-track implementation of projects!
For its part, the provincial government needs to spell out its position on the matter of prioritizing the construction of more day care centers.
It should first and foremost adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to child development. It should resourcefully attend to the needs of the poorest of the poor children. This gives compelling evidence that day care centers and other basic social services should be prioritized in marginalized communities. Likewise, it should endeavor to protect the public from the cumbersome financial consequences of sending their loved ones to a day care center. What happens next when the plea to invest in day care centers is ignored by those who walk in the corridors of power? It goes without saying, Ifugao faces disastrous consequences. What does Governor Jerry Dalipog have to say?
It also has, therefore, become imperative for Congress to quickly put in place a policy framework that would allow barangay council officials to move rural areas forward through subsidies for building of essential facilities as day care centers. There is also a pressing need to standardize and improve the country’s day care centers.
Congressional action is urgently needed for appropriate day care center manpower development and research responsive to the country’s day care needs and problems. Most of day care center teachers are overworked but underpaid. They are affected by the high cost of living and it requires a quick and comprehensive government response. It would thus be strategic for Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao to be proactive in addressing their needs.
In a related development, Punong Barangay Da-ang also vowed to embark on street lighting, road improvement, agriculture productivity and sports development projects this year.
“I am thankful for the people’s continued trust and support for what I can do for the barangay,” he said in an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly.
He also reported on initiatives being taken to upgrade projects for the marginalized sector.
The Poblacion South Barangay Council has substantially delivered in its good governance agenda. It has done quite well in delivering fundamental services to the people. Many are relishing it for a while. **By Anthony A. Araos
