mimiklu

[mimiklu]

BRGY. STA. MONICA: IISANG LAYUNIN, IISANG HANGARIN MAGING HANDA AT LIGTAS SA PANAHON NG SAKUNA

Barangay Sta. Monica in Novaliches Quezon City is composed of eight residential subdivisions namely: Palmera Homes, Northbridge Park, Jordan Plaines, Villa Verde, Magno, Santiago, Creste Verde, and Forest Hills. The nearest body of water to our barangay are Tullahan River- which flows from La Mesa Dam, Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas- and Ilang-Ilang Creek. The river and creek imposed risks to local residents.

The total land area of the barangay is 147 hectares with more or less 50,000 residents. Mrs. Maria Villanueva, the Desk Officer of our barangay, shared that the total population is divided by ages 0 to 1 (4%), 2 to 17 (30%), 18 to 59 (60%) and 60 above (6%).

Mrs. Villanueva told that our community is facing an alarming increase in Dengue cases due to the stagnant water from light rainfall in lowland areas prone to floods. The frequent rains also endangered the residents that are near to Tullahan River because of the rapid increase of water level. She said that improper waste management and lack of discipline of the residents caused clogs to water outlets.

Our barangay created a strategic evacuation map where residents could find refuge. These areas are Lydia Court, Idayag Daycare Center, Mayang Pula Multi-Purpose Hall, Daycare Center, and the New Barangay Hall. She said that our subdivision’s hall was also used in disasters like the Bagyong Ondoy. The fund allocation of our barangay is greatly focused on the purchase of rescue materials and equipment.

I think that our barangay could solve the problems by imposing strict policies, detailed penalties, and punishments that must be discussed to all residents. Creative campaigns like exchanging the trash, tires or any materials that hold water could be exchanged by rice or goods. The youth composing 30% of our community must be encouraged to act accordingly to the policies of safety and cleanliness. Schools could also ask their students to volunteer in barangay rehabilitation like tree planting that could be equivalent to their projects. Sagip Batis is our barangay’s project in the continuous river maintenance with training and seminars conducted to volunteers, employees and civil organizations.  

I highly commend our barangay for their preparedness in case of disasters. Ambulances are always near the barangay hall, new safety equipment with life jackets that can easily be reached.

Last September 26, 2009, Bagyong Ondoy hit Metro Manila that caused thousands of lives, residential, commercial infrastructures and home commodities. It affected more or less 1,500 families in our barangay. After the typhoon, the barangay is always in anticipation of floods and impose early risk warnings. This what also happened in Bagyong Yolanda when it took 5,500 lives and livelihood of our brothers and sisters in Visayas. Mrs. Villanueva’s face gloomed when she discussed how our country faces fires, earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and landslides. The willingness of Filipinos to help is always present and it makes her heart leap. However, the preparedness of our country still lacks.

Our beloved country is in great need of support from all of us. Disasters and calamities are unexpected that may take thousands of lives. Our walk made me realize that one area may be clean and discipline but the surrounding areas are not it would not be able to completely stop the disasters. We need to face the reality of how a disaster changes our lives. To realize the pain of losing a loved one, source of living, a house that you worked hard to be built, and others. We do not need to experience all of it to understand how grave calamities affect us.

Our nation must act and be prepared now by updating the scientific and strategic evacuation and disaster relief action plans. Provision from agencies to disaster relief funds must be addressed to the needs of post-disaster such as the construction of shelter and schools. A larger number of Volunteers must come from local areas or nearby areas to be able to distribute relief and help faster. Relief and rescue must not travel from great distances because of the urgency of the work in search and rescue, secure the basic needs of the community and restoration of infrastructure.

I could volunteer and help care for the environment by advocating and helping the restoration of our trees and plants, rivers and creeks, help community know the pre, during and post actions that must be done in a disaster. Safety is within us we must act now to avoid the effects of calamities in the future.

[mimiklu]

BRGY. STA. MONICA: IISANG LAYUNIN, IISANG HANGARIN MAGING HANDA AT LIGTAS SA PANAHON NG SAKUNA

Barangay Sta. Monica in Novaliches Quezon City is composed of eight residential subdivisions namely: Palmera Homes, Northbridge Park, Jordan Plaines, Villa Verde, Magno, Santiago, Creste Verde, and Forest Hills. The nearest body of water to our barangay are Tullahan River- which flows from La Mesa Dam, Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas- and Ilang-Ilang Creek. The river and creek imposed risks to local residents.

The total land area of the barangay is 147 hectares with more or less 50,000 residents. Mrs. Maria Villanueva, the Desk Officer of our barangay, shared that the total population is divided by ages 0 to 1 (4%), 2 to 17 (30%), 18 to 59 (60%) and 60 above (6%).

Mrs. Villanueva told that our community is facing an alarming increase in Dengue cases due to the stagnant water from light rainfall in lowland areas prone to floods. The frequent rains also endangered the residents that are near to Tullahan River because of the rapid increase of water level. She said that improper waste management and lack of discipline of the residents caused clogs to water outlets.

Our barangay created a strategic evacuation map where residents could find refuge. These areas are Lydia Court, Idayag Daycare Center, Mayang Pula Multi-Purpose Hall, Daycare Center, and the New Barangay Hall. She said that our subdivision’s hall was also used in disasters like the Bagyong Ondoy. The fund allocation of our barangay is greatly focused on the purchase of rescue materials and equipment.

I think that our barangay could solve the problems by imposing strict policies, detailed penalties, and punishments that must be discussed to all residents. Creative campaigns like exchanging the trash, tires or any materials that hold water could be exchanged by rice or goods. The youth composing 30% of our community must be encouraged to act accordingly to the policies of safety and cleanliness. Schools could also ask their students to volunteer in barangay rehabilitation like tree planting that could be equivalent to their projects. Sagip Batis is our barangay’s project in the continuous river maintenance with training and seminars conducted to volunteers, employees and civil organizations.  

I highly commend our barangay for their preparedness in case of disasters. Ambulances are always near the barangay hall, new safety equipment with life jackets that can easily be reached.

Last September 26, 2009, Bagyong Ondoy hit Metro Manila that caused thousands of lives, residential, commercial infrastructures and home commodities. It affected more or less 1,500 families in our barangay. After the typhoon, the barangay is always in anticipation of floods and impose early risk warnings. This what also happened in Bagyong Yolanda when it took 5,500 lives and livelihood of our brothers and sisters in Visayas. Mrs. Villanueva’s face gloomed when she discussed how our country faces fires, earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and landslides. The willingness of Filipinos to help is always present and it makes her heart leap. However, the preparedness of our country still lacks.

Our beloved country is in great need of support from all of us. Disasters and calamities are unexpected that may take thousands of lives. Our walk made me realize that one area may be clean and discipline but the surrounding areas are not it would not be able to completely stop the disasters. We need to face the reality of how a disaster changes our lives. To realize the pain of losing a loved one, source of living, a house that you worked hard to be built, and others. We do not need to experience all of it to understand how grave calamities affect us.

Our nation must act and be prepared now by updating the scientific and strategic evacuation and disaster relief action plans. Provision from agencies to disaster relief funds must be addressed to the needs of post-disaster such as the construction of shelter and schools. A larger number of Volunteers must come from local areas or nearby areas to be able to distribute relief and help faster. Relief and rescue must not travel from great distances because of the urgency of the work in search and rescue, secure the basic needs of the community and restoration of infrastructure.

I could volunteer and help care for the environment by advocating and helping the restoration of our trees and plants, rivers and creeks, help community know the pre, during and post actions that must be done in a disaster. Safety is within us we must act now to avoid the effects of calamities in the future.