Output #3: Community Profile
Geographical Location: Barangay Salcedo 2, Noveleta, Cavite
E. Community of Place, Circumstance (Poverty)
The people of Barangay Salcedo 2 share common experiences in the desperation of poverty – namely common occupations (construction workers), scarcity in potable water, and living on soft soil due to being built on a fishpond, turned wasteland, and finally, a community.
B. Community-Based Perspective
As an agent, local institutions like the elementary school (top), and hospital (bottom), help in reaching out to Barangay Salcedo 2’s needs in education, and health, respectively, in the hopes of supporting and developing the community’s inhabitants.
The children pictured above represent the congregation of Barangay Salcedo 2’s species living and developing together. As they grow together, they adapt each other’s norms, values, and attitudes through constant interaction.
Not pictured are other species living alongside humans like the cats and dogs in the barangay.
Two sectors of Barangay Salcedo 2 are the young sector (upper), and the business sector (lower). The young sector makes up most of the community, as families welcome more and more members each passing year. The business sector, or the stores, are the main sources of livelihood of the mothers in the community.
In this community where their main resources is land, their main social issues include the growing collection of waste, and the lone water pump which is used by the majority of the barangay. Other social issues include rumor mongers, and electrical cable wires constantly causing fires in the area.
As interviewed by selected students of HumSS-12, the Political Structure of Barangay Salcedo 2 seemed functional in the development of the community despite being built on a fishpond turned wasteland. Around 600 families, and 372 householders are stated on the small area built on macerated waste in Noveleta, Cavite.
The common problems faced by the barangay were short circuiting wires, rumor mongers (‘chismis’), shortage or difficulty in water supply, and the selfishness in sharing the funds for the people’s livelihood. Short circuiting wires were due to the jumper being overloaded. Rumor mongers would often cause conflict, disagreements, and mistrust in the community. There was only one water pump, which the poorer families used for bathing, washing, and drinking; the ones living by the roads had their own faucets. They also found how the people refused to share funds, opting instead to build their own businesses individually instead of collaboratively, which caused a stir in the allocation of livelihood funds.
Other than those mentioned, the barangay had no problem in terms of education (they have a day care center, and an elementary school nearby), health, and even malls (they were near SM Rosario). However, when it came to education, the children were not necessarily encouraged to study until they graduate. Most of the people living there reached until only elementary education. The barangay officials see no problem in this, though.
The barangay officials present, when the interviewers visited, were two barangay councilors, one barangay chief, and one barangay health worker. They further shared how they do not take action immediately unless numerous complaints have been issued. When it came to curfews, they have it implemented but not strongly for they do not have a jail to house those caught, and parents would quickly take back their children once notified. They also shared how their main problem was the absence of comfort rooms in the community – human waste was dumped straight in the river. The barangay officials also clarified that there was no political dynasty in their community.
A community is a collection of clusters who form relationships, whether positive or negative, as they interact with each other. It continually develops, whether for better or for worse, but most commonly to the best interest of the community’s people.
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