Social Work Within the Community

"Dito sa barangay ang pinakaservice ng barangay, tao yung inuuna"

Ms. Angelie Adriano, along with Ms. Lea Ponce, share their experiences and views on social work as barangay officers in Concepcion Dos.

Barangay Concepcion Dos is one of the barangay in Marikina City. Its mission seeks to empower each individual to see their fullest potential by providing services that lets them be socially compatible with the continuous development of our society today. It envisions a well- rounded community where every member are united as one in the process of serving others as it encompass social justice for the development and growth of the community.

Social Services Specifically for your Needs

By providing social services, along with legislating just policies and utilizing a systematic process of intervention, Barangay Concepcion Dos tries to improves the quality of life of its members one program at a time. the Barangay council is divided into committee that caters to a specific group of individuals to ensure that all concerns of each individual is addressed. Women and youth sports and development, education, peace and order, transportation, health and services, persons with diasabilities, senior citizen, waste and means, and gender and development are examples of the committees included in the barangay. Every committee manages their own service or project depending on the needs of their clients, though there are times when committees need to collaborate with one another to be able to give a more suitable and comprehensive type of assistance. For example, the education committee is in charge of the Alternative Learning Program (ALS) program for the out of school youth, which may also be done in partnership of the youth committee.

Which Service is for Which

With so many projects and programs offered, it is clear that the Barangay Council serves in the benefit of their community. However, some still need more attention than others and that they require a special kind of service from the barangay to fully address their problem. Here in Barangay Concepcion Dos, these people come in the form of the poor, youth, and seniors.

The Client

Situated along eskinitas and crowded areas are the less fortunate living in unfavorable environment and their makeshift houses. They are in need of financial assistance for them to be able to support their basic needs. They are also in need of medical assistance since most experience health related problems, considering their current living conditions. Others may even ask for burial assistance to have a proper ceremony for their passed loved ones. 

Possible Services for them:

• Medical assistane for hospital arrangements 
• Referals to proper health agencies for therapy sessions (i.e. chemotherapy)
• Funeral services - coffin and burial site
• Administering vaccinations
• Livelihood seminars

The Client

For the youth, especially in the depressed areas, cases of teenage pregnancy and high school dropouts are the usual problems encountered by Ms. Adriano who is part of the youth and women committee. She implied that it is probably caused by the lack of guidance and education among the youth. Other issues concerning the youth involves curfew complaints.

Possible Services for them:

• Recreational activities like Sports  
• Nagpapa-liga
• Livelihood seminars
• Seminars on anti-drug, disasters health etc
• Refereshers
• Alternative Learning System for out of school youth

The Client

Meanwhile, the seniors of the community usually receives medical assistance due to their declining health over the years. Also they ask for assistance in accomplishing certain documents such as senior citizen I.D.

Possible Services for them:

• Pneumonia Vaccination
• Anti-flu Vaccination
• Dengue Vaccination

Challenging but Rewarding

Both Ms. Adriano and Ms. Ponce admits that their work is not easy. When you initially thought things cannot go wrong, does go wrong is a common experience in their work. Ms. Adriano shares how a simple task like registration for the annual gift giving to planning the whole activity flow for an event becomes a stressful moment when the activity was not able to accommodate everyone. Meanwhile, Ms. Ponce recalls the moments when clients avail for services that cannot be quickly given due to tight budget or insufficient funds from the barangay. And of course those difficult clients that's hard to deal with will always be present to make work even more exciting. However, despite those hardships, they still continue to work in servicd of others. Why?  The fulfillment and emotional reward from helping they reiceve is enough to keep them going. Recieving those simple "thank you"  is equivalent to, if not more than, being financially blessed.

"Nakakastress lang siya pero iba talaga yung feeling na may natulungan."