BARANGAY CONNECTION

BARANGAY ABUCAY IN PILAR, SORSOGON CELEBRATES CHILDREN’S MONTH

The Barangay Children’s Organization (BCO) of Barangay Abucay in Pilar, Sorsogon gathered the children in the community to celebrate National Children’s Month last November 19, 2022 at the Barangay Abucay basketball park.

With the theme “Kalusugan, Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan,” children up to 17 years old were invited to a day-long celebration that started with Zumba and color fun run at five in the morning.

The initial activities were followed by an assembly where a discussion about children’s rights was conducted. The children also participated in poster-making, slogan-making, coloring, and creative storytelling contests. The program ended with the awarding of prizes to the winners.

“National Children’s Month is celebrated in the Philippines every November. This month-long celebration aims to give Filipino children access to a healthy environment, good education, and quality health care. This month highlights the ways we can help and support them,” BCO Abucay says in their Facebook page. In the same post, the BCO expressed its gratitude to Barangay Chairman Joselito V. Lolo for his full support to the said program. Barangay Councilor Cyrus S. Leosala was also present to guide the children during the activities while the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members helped by preparing the games under the leadership of SK Chairman Benjie M. Lita.

BARANGAY MAMATID’S BOTIKA NG BARANGAY PROVIDES FREE MEDICINES

Residents of Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna, have reason to celebrate, as their officials have another project going for them. In a Facebook video posted on September 21, 2022, Barangay Chairman Jervis Himpisao walked his audience through the Botika ng Barangay (Barangay Pharmacy) to show the available medicines the residents may avail of for free.

Upon entry, every resident visiting the pharmacy will be assessed by two barangay health workers and interviewed about the medicines that they need. They will then be walked to the shelf, while being informed that they can ask for vitamins both for children and adults.

Himpisao also mentioned that the pharmacy also stocks paracetamol and cough medicine for all ages. Moreover, the barangay chairman added that Mamatid residents may also get free antibiotics and maintenance medicine for diabetic and hypertensive patients. All these can be availed of by presenting a voter’s ID and prescription.

Residents of Mamatid who have seen the video expressed their delight and gratitude in the comment section, saying that they no longer need to buy their maintenance medicine and that they are happy to have a pharmacy that gives free medicine in their community. Himpisao ended the video with a message to his constituents, saying “nagpapasalamat po ang inyong lingkod sa walang sawang pagsuporta po sa ating pamahalaang barangay at sama-sama pa rin po tayong magdasal para po sa ikauunlad ng ating barangay. Open po ang opisina ng barangay chairman para po sa mga mungkahi na [magpapaganda sa ating pamamahala sa] Barangay Mamatid. (I am thankful for your unending support for our barangay government. Let us keep praying together for the progress of our barangay. The office of the barangay chairman welcomes suggestions for better governance).”

BARANGAY ANOS CONDUCTS WEEKLY CHECKUP FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES

The Barangay Health Center of Barangay Anos in Los Baños, Laguna conducted its weekly immunization and checkup services for mothers and babies, spearheaded by barangay midwife Rowena Avila on November 23, 2022.

During the activity, infants and toddlers were given vaccine shots while some ill patients were given needed medicines. Along with this, the Municipal Nutrition Office of Los Baños served food to beneficiaries of the municipality’s “kaKALINGAin” Feeding Program. Feeding activities take place thrice a week, and the feeding program lasts for three months.

Aside from barangay health workers (BHWs), students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ (UPLB), College of Human Ecology, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, were present to help in recording the weight of the children in preparation for the upcoming “NUTRI Pack na Pack” program. Infants and toddlers are being weighed weekly to monitor their health and help address their needs

Also present to assist in the activity were barangay nutrition scholars and barangay health center aides.

SPECIAL-NEEDS CHILDREN GET ACCESS TO EARLY INTERVENTION ASSESSMENT IN BARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, PASIG CITY

In partnership with Special Olympics Pilipinas (SOP), Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City recently launched a free early intervention assessment program for children with developmental disabilities.

Fifteen students attended the pilot session that took place in Barangay San Antonio. Around 20 children will undergo assessment every week for the following sessions. Over 100 children aged three and above are targeted to be served through the program. To be given priority are those presently being served by the barangay’s Child Development Center. The above-mentioned program is under the barangay’s “Project CARE or Children’s Access to Responsive Evaluation” program, which aims to detect developmental delays among children, and to determine the possible intervention during their early years. Under the program, children will be assessed through interactive games and activities that may help develop their communication and social skills. This program can be accessed for free or at an affordable rate compared to the Php5,000 to Php12,000 normally charged in other centers.

Barangay San Antonio Chairman Raymond Lising and other barangay officials started this program because they noticed that there is a significant number of children in the barangay who have special needs. This led them to ask SOP’s help. This is also their response to the call of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) to strengthen efforts and services for the development of kids.