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“A
Barangay To Emulate”
Barangay
Sapngan should be a source of inspiration to other barangays in Bulusan because
of the dynamic leadership of their officials and the support of their
constituents.
Although it
could be one of the smallest barangays in the municipality with only 549
residents and a handful of professionals and well-off families, it has almost
all the needed facilities of a barangay which others don’t have.
In the heart of
the barangay is a 537-square meter lot where stand a barangay hall, nutrition
center, day care center, chapel, and a basketball court which serves also as a
rice drying area and place of assembly.
The acquisition
of all these started when Mr. Salvador “Buddy” Fuller took over as Chairman
of this barangay in 1991. Through
the initiative of Mr. Maximo B. Fulo, a retired school principal and the
barangay secretary then, the said lot was purchased.
With his retirement pay, he advanced the payment for the lot which was
paid later by the barangay on installment basis.
With the
bayanihan spirit in their hearts, the barangay officials and the residents
worked together to level the ground in preparation for the construction of the
barangay hall and the basketball court.
Being an
employee of SORECO I, Chairman Buddy was able to install street lights along the
main road of the barangay using his one year honorarium in buying the needed
materials, while all the kagawads agreed to foot the monthly electric bills.
The project
that followed was the cementing of their main road with the bags of cement and P
7,000 cash coming from the government. To cut cost on labor, all officials and the residents
volunteered their services while others served food for the workers.
When Mr. Andres
“Arî” Frando became the barangay chairman in 1997, he pushed through the
programs of Chairman Buddy. It was
during his term that the day care center and nutrition center were erected with
the funds from the IRA. The chapel
was also put up through the initiative of Mrs. Fe G. Monteo, a kagawad and the
barangay hermana.
Now, after the
last barangay elections, Chairman Buddy was elected again to his former position
together with Kagawads Celso Gacosta, Jr., Jose Furio, Edwin Sesbreño, Jerry
Gamis, Francisco Gallardo, Sr., Wilfredo Gapayao, Fe G. Monteo, and Jean G.
Gabitan. Also elected SK Kagawads
were: Aris Abad, Allan Dominguez, Gibson Sesbreño, Jenny Gob, Ryan Gapayao,
Noreen Emberga and Janice de Vera.
Supporting them
as a team to better serve their constituents are: Marietta Dominguez –
treasurer; Lea B. Peñalosa – secretary; Pacita Gamis – day-care worker; Ma.
Cleofe P. Fuller – nutrition
scholar & health worker; Leticia Fuentes and Lutgarda G. Españo – health
workers.
Upon their
assumption of office, they immediately put some improvements in the barangay
hall to make it more presentable. Now,
it boasts of an electric fan, gas stove, curtains and table cloth, a barangay
map, and a 21” TV set which only this barangay has. An outpost is being constructed also.
To realize
their vision of “Isang pamayanang tahimik, maunlad, at mamamayang matapat,
nagkakaisa, nagtutulungan at may takot sa Diyos”, they work together in
all their projects and activities. This
is perhaps the reason why Barangay Sapngan was awarded recently as the Cleanest
and Greenest Barangay, and was chosen eight place by the Nutrition Committee.
Sapngan now is
the object of envy by other barangays. Visitors
say, if only other barangays would have the kind of leadership of Chairmen Buddy
and Arî and supportive constituents, they could also be another barangay to
emulate.
Vol. XV No.9 (September - October 2003)
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