A peaceful community is headed by efficient public servants. The ultimate goal of a leader is to promote the common good, provide good service and promulgate good governance at ease. Society won’t be on good terms if high-standard leadership does not exist. Citizens are the major concern since they are the beneficiaries of the services offered. Local Government Units will not grow if the public servant is not committed to their responsibilities. They are expected to prioritize the issues and concerns of the barangay’s for the benefit of the community and its citizens. Satisfaction is earned if high-quality services were attained by the beneficiaries. Public servants are presumed to make possibilities into reality as if they make solutions or actions to a certain problem that was encountered. He was 51 years old, and he was a first-time Councilor and has been a Barangay Secretary for more than eleven years at Brgy. Nyugan, Malabon City. He was titled the BCPC President, handles the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Solid Waste Management, Women and Family, and: is the Focal Person of BCPC, BADAC, VAWC, and GAD, Coun. Ramoncito “Toto” D. Arlegui. He was a busy person upon knowing the duties and responsibilities attached to him. Recently, they are working on the Nutrition Month Celebration of their Barangay. They were also performing Clean-Up Drive since there have been increasing cases of Dengue in their area. Moreover, he was also in-charge in BADAC activities every Sunday which requires activity reports since there were expenditures involved. They monitor clients who were included on drug watch lists such as flee bargainer and intensive out-patient or clients under a provision in jail. He has to send updates via a weekly report to the police and Barangay Chairman. Additionally, they monitor the client’s improvement in their counseling sessions and behavioral therapy to help them cope with withdrawing from drug involvement. They wanted to determine if their medium is effective throughout the implementation. In this sense, the Barangay Officials focus on administering action plans utilizing enacting measures to address the concerns in their Barangay. Thus, he is also responsible for collecting data on children who have no birth certificates yet and haven’t been registered.
On the other hand, he is proposing possible programs for the PDLs who were residents of their community. They are thinking of programs in collaboration with the BJMP that will simultaneously help the PDLs behind bars acquire discipline and meet their needs since they have limited mobility behind bars. At the same time, they were also concerned about preparing their families for their reintegration after their release from jail. The Barangay personnel are planning to coordinate with the Jail Management for them to identify what program can be conducted to help the detainees and tighten the existing programs inside the jail. One cannot deny the fact that there is a stigma toward ex-detainee as they began the new chapter of their lives outside bars. Reintegration is not just in the community but also within the family. There could be instances that their family members do not support the PDL due to personal matters. So, these are the objectives of the possible programs that can be created. The problems in their Barangay were most likely drug-related but no heinous crimes were reported. The programs primarily focus on the health status of detainees, including their physical, mental, and emotional state behind bars. The relationship with other inmates, and how they deal, react and work with them has an impact on the PDLs which is why LGU. highlights the importance of behavioral therapy to assess the emotion of detainees behind bars. Secondly, is the value of Decongestion due to the overpopulation of PDLs in jail. This is in line with the facilities for detainees which could be crowded for the inmates. It has an effect on their health status that has to be addressed too. Barangay officials are most likely estimating the negative mindset of ex-detainees due to their situation. We cannot control anyone’s judgment of other people. It’s unstoppable and increases from time to time when a person gives time to it. Only disregarding those nonsense things can eliminate the risk of arguments.
According to Coun. “Toto”, they are in partnership with YAKAP BAYAN of DSWD which provides assistance to the PDLs. Also, with the CMPI to which they enrolled the ex-detainees to learn and improve technical skills, as well as with KAAGAPAY, which served as the facilitator of counseling sessions for fleeing bargainers and clients under the provision. Recently they built a partnership with Dr. La Salle University Araneta that provided a livelihood program specifically the yema spread making which they think can be sustained and executed through extensive programs. However, HLAF had been a great help to Brgy. Nyugan of Malbon City in the sense that HLAF guides the Baranggay Officials in creating plans derived from consultations and assessment on what is much in need by the prisoners and flee bargainers. HLAF provides programs that can be carried out by the Barangay and allows the Baranggay to constitute its programs as well. It was like hitting two birds with one stone. A joined force action that seeks to help mainly the detainees and ex-detainees to cope with their situation. The favorite programs for PDLs and ex-PDLs that were mentioned by Coun. “Toto” was the livelihood programs and Family values which highlight the importance of the perspective of their family members. In addition, he also admires Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Education primarily nurturing the prisoners to love themselves even more despite how critical their situations are. He was able to share success stories of ex-detainees who’ve changed for the better of themselves. Imagine that 22 DRP graduates are currently working. This is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of their administration. Personally, Coun. ‘Toto’ was aware of the PDLs life behind bars since he was a church member in his teenage years. They conduct prison week as one of their community work. Hence, he believes that not everything that feels good is better. People must learn to set limitations on the things that they do. A person has to realize what could be the consequences of their actions. Setting boundaries will do to increase self-control and diminish the negativity that will tempt someone to act accordingly. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Life is short, so bring the best out of yourself.
