For our final take on the discipline of Social Work, we interviewed the Barangay Captain of Industrial Valley Complex here in Marikina City. Hon. Fernando Mira agreed to meet with us last November 11 to talk about the community involvement projects his administration does for the residents of Cinco Hermano, Monte Vista and Ulandes. We gathered several meaningful and inspiring insights from Barangay Captain Mira so read on to know more:
PROJECTS
‘Peace and order,’ that is what Barangay Captain Fernando Mira told us he focuses on for the barangay. His main focus is to promote peace and order; “Kapag may peace and order, saka na dadating ang pag-unlad.” That is why he created projects in order to sustain the peace and order he hopes to achieve and maintain. He also shared with us the other focuses of the other projects like disaster preparedness management, health, employment, feeding programs, and other more. He explained to us some of the projects that were already executed, and some other projects they do yearly. For peace and order, he shared that there were P.A. systems already installed around the barangay so that communication and information dissemination would be easier. There had also been stationed fire extinguisher around the different districts in the barangay to prevent fire from growing. The homeowners were gathered while a group of people explain how to properly use the fire extinguisher. So far, he told us that there were cases that the whole house was almost on fire, but luckily it was prevented with the help of the designated fire extinguisher near the house.
The other projects of the barangay include health programs, disaster and risk reduction management seminars, livelihood talks, feeding programs, relief goods distribution, and giveaways. They want to implement a variety of projects monthly if possible. These projects are either from the minds of the barangay officials, or collaboration from volunteers. From the barangay, it takes time to plan and implement projects. They still have to plan where they would get the funds for the project they want to implement. If the project is a collaboration of the office and the volunteers, it usually is faster to process and be implemented since they already have the funds needed for the proposed project.
Barangay Captain Fernando Mira said that he looks for contacts, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the feeding program he wants to plan for the barangay, in order for there to be a concrete project. He is part of the Rotary Club of Marikina. The club he is in aims to help other people in terms of volunteering, donating, and creating projects for those who are in need. The people in this club are volunteer leaders who want to share their time and talent in helping people. Being in this club was helpful for him as a barangay captain since it was accessible for him to ask for some help from the members of the club.
Annually, every 27th of December, Barangay Captain Fernando Mira holds a Christmas party for the children living in the barangay. He has volunteers who would sponsor and donate toys and clothes for the children. Everyone in the barangay is invited to join the party, but the main focus is the children. This is his way to celebrate his birthday, by making ‘his’ children happy. He said that it was more fulfilling to see children happy than adults and senior citizens. Genuine happiness is seen to the children whenever they receive gifts, and that is what he wants to see.
Even when he was still a normal citizen, he was already helping the barangay in their projects. Starting with small projects helping a few number of people, contributing to the brainstorming for bigger projects in the barangay, then came bigger projects already helping the whole barangay, and him being the captain of his barangay. It was in his heart to help other people, and for me this kind of citizen is a true inspiration. Even though he was still a normal citizen until now that he is the barangay captain, he still continued to help people. I hope that everyone would also do the same and have a big heart in helping people. If the people have the same big heart as he does, then the world would be better and greater than what we are right now. 
According to Barangay Captain Fernando Mira, they conduct a number of activities for the community of Cinco Hermano, Monte Vista and Ulandes. They organize educational seminars and trainings, as well as charity drives like donating toys to children on Christmas. When we inquired on the process behind the planning and preparations for the events, he stated that it actually takes a year to set everything properly. They have committees in charge of various necessities to make their activities successful, however they don’t exactly have departmental divisions that oversee specific and permanent tasks. The barangay developed the Peace & Order Committee, Committee for the Youth and Committee for Senior Citizens to efficiently generate the most effective means to foster a thriving community in their area.
Barangay Captain Mira cited several organizations that help their barangay in providing meaningful endeavors to engage their community members. The most prominent is the Rotary Club of Marikina, which has extended funds for several of the administration’s projects for years. The Arko Fraternity, Red Cross of Marikina and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are some of the organizations that have helped the barangay of Industrial Valley. The local Church plays a part as well in cultivating a dynamic neighborhood through their outreach programs and zumba sessions. But the most dedicated workers are the volunteers from the community itself, from the Cinco Hermano and the Monte Vista divisions. They extend their helping hands to the lesser-privileged citizens of Ulandes by organizing events and charity drives.
It was not all smooth sailing in Industrial Valley, as the Barangay Captain recounted how some of the community members were not entirely cooperative during their endeavors. Despite the barangay’s best effort to engage their neighborhood in participating in various projects, they frequently receive negative feedback from the citizens. Barangay Captain Fernando Mira remarked how most of them are often dissatisfied of the services that the barangay provides. One such instance was when they were handing out bags of rice to the residents of Ulandes, and they were met with a scornful, “‘Eto lang?” by a senior citizen. There were others who were also unmotivated to take part in events hosted by the barangay administration unless they are given incentives or compensations. Often, the lower-income residents are reluctant to participate because they prefer managing their sari-sari stores or going to work generate the income they need to provide for their families compared to sitting through a two to four hour-long seminar that doesn’t generate money to put food on the table.
The Barangay Captain stressed that this short-sightedness is the major flaw for many of the residents of Ulandes. They don’t see the long-term gain in learning about vocational skills because they would rather have instant gratification for their needs. There was an educational course that the barangay offered the poorer community in their area and in order for it to push through, they need to reach the quota of 25 children who are willing to attend. Unfortunately, even they couldn’t fulfill this meager number of participants. It was disheartening to hear.
The barangay’s aim is to educate them in order to give them the opportunities to strive towards better paying jobs and business ventures. The barangay captain claimed that there are already those who have risen from poverty because of the vocational training they’ve received from their educational programs. Barangay Captain Mira hoped that his community members would find the initiative to improve their own life by seizing the opportunities that are presented to them. Through empowering the people and elevating the quality of life, Industrial Valley would become a thriving, prospering community.
People who are dedicated and are inspired to have a better future were given a chance to achieve this goal. Barangay Captain Fernando Mira shared with us true stories of the people in the barangay. He told us that there was a livelihood talk about massage therapy. Those who were involved got the opportunity to learn and acquire skills needed for the job. Although time, patience, and persistence were needed, they invested themselves along with hard work in order for them to be a part of this kind of work. After years of training, some were able to work abroad, and some works here in the Philippines but still earns a lot more. The barangay captain himself is a regular customer of a massage therapist who was part of the program.
His story showed that the programs he implements are for the long-run. The programs for the people focuses more on for the whole community and as well as an individual citizen. Some examples of the projects for the community are the PA system, fire extinguisher, and disaster and risk management seminars. Projects for the individual on the other hand include livelihood talks, health programs, feeding programs, relief goods distribution, and giveaways. He wants to make sure that people would have a better future ahead of them; he was just the starting point for them towards their success. He envisions a bigger picture ahead for his people and helps them grow into a stronger, wiser, and a more independent individual, and a more unified and peaceful community for all.
