I.

Introduction

A community is a group of interacting people, living in some proximity (i.e. space, time or relationship). It usually refers to a social unit larger than a household that shares common values and has social cohesion. It continually exists because of the peoples harmonious relationship and mutual urge to keep living. In a community, several sectors coexist together for the people and inhabitants of it to live comfortably and safely. These sectors are run by people inside the community, the environment where a community lives also affects the lives of the people, it affects their ways of life, coping mechanisms, practices and beliefs of its inhabitants. In line with this thought, it is safe to say that no community is exactly the same with another community. People comprise a community, and it is inevitable that there are differences in the ways and beliefs of each individual. Individual differences, as they say it, some people in the community are well off and some are not. Though living inside the same community, different people from all walks of life can be found here and this is one of the factors that make a community unique in its own way. These several factors mentioned are what make a community a community. There are ways to evaluate the condition of an existing community, one of which is through a community diagnosis. A community diagnosis is a comprehensive assessment of the health status of a community in relation to its social, physical and biological environment. The purpose of a community diagnosis is to define existing problems, determine available resources, and set priorities for planning, implementing and evaluating health actions, by and for the community. A community diagnosis is carried out through collection of data from the people of the community under evaluation, to provide pertinent information to be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively to be

able to arrive to certain conclusions and identification of problems in the community. Give possible recommendation to be implemented to ensure the well being of the people in the community. General Objective: To be able to identify certain community problems affecting the people inside it through data gathering procedures and be able to arrive at certain conclusions and give recommendations to address the identified problems. Specific Objectives: To choose a baranggay with possible unaddressed problems in terms of its social, physical and biological aspect. Gather data from the people and different sectors to provide information and data pertinent to the community diagnosis. Determine existing problems inside the community to be able to address them. Formulate conclusions based on the data gathered from the community. State recommendations that will address the identified problems in the community.

Methodology To be able to get right number of sample to represent the whole population of the chosen baranggay, Slovins formula was used.

From this sample, a survey was conducted to gather data. A questionnaire was formulated as a tool to aid in the data gathering procedure. Interview of some people and officials of the baranggay was also conducted for additional information. Secondary data were also gathered from the records of the Baranggay Health Midwife from the Baranggay Health Station. Same type of data were also gathered from records of the baranggay from its officials. Prior to the actual data gathering, several procedures were undertaken, from asking for the consent of the Municipal Health Officer as our head of office to informing and asking for the permission of the authorities of the baranggay under study, to observe proper protocols. Limitations This evaluation through a community diagnosis is primarily focused in Brgy. Siuton, a baranggay in the municipality of Magallanes. It is one of its 34 baranggays, one of the biggest and one of the most populated. This community diagnosis is focused on the people withn the area of Brgy. Siuton, the different sectors within it, including the peoples practices, ways and beliefs from the olden days up to present. It is only limited to the factors and people within the area of Brgy. Siuton.

II.

Target Community Profile

Historical Background The legend of Siuton has many versions. The reason perhaps is that, the legend has been told and retold by people. Some added facts, others omit, and a few made their own. However, the original legend still survives. It was on the Spanish era when various pirates roamed around in search for a good settlement that Siuton came to be. Many believed that once, a group of Muslim pirates came across a narrow route. Curious about where this route was leading, they asked the inhabitants of a nearby place about it. They found that nobody knows where it was leading, for the route was too narrow for a vessel to pass. Fearless and adventurous, the Muslim pirates tried to cross the route, until they found an uninhabited place. The place was rich with natural resources and its invigorating breeze invited the pirates to settle in her virgin lands. The Muslim pirates enjoyed life in their new found abode. The need for name of their home arose. As they ponder on what name should they give the place, they recalled the one-way route that brought them to the peaceful place with abundant foods. They decided to name the place PIOTON meaning narrow. As months turned into years and years to centuries, numerous groups of people inhabited the place and the name Pioton became SIUTON up to this writing. Siuton, besdes its being a tourist spot because of its famous rivers, is a historical place. For it was here that the first mass in Mainland Luzon was held in the year 1569. In fact, Merito

Espinas, a Bicol Culture professor, and a group of priests came to commemorate the said event on July 15, 1978. A beautiful landmark worth one thousand two hundred pesos was put up through the leadership of late Barangay Captain Jose C. Carrascal Jr. and was blessed by Msgr. Arcilla. The story behind this historical event is, once a group of Franciscan Friars were trapped in their journey by a strong typhoon in the midst of China Sea. The water over- flooded the sea. Their hope for survival was almost nil for they couldnt peep shelter. As they sailed, they came across a river whose other side seemed to be safe for a sojourn. They tried to cross it amidst great difficulties. It was upon this that they set foot on the land of Gibalon, Siuton (the other side of the river) that they held a mass as thanksgiving for the safe place they got and for saving them from the strong current of the river that they crossed, thus, celebrating the first mass in Mainland Luzon. Siuton is a barangay in the municipality of Magallanes in the province of Sorsogon. It has a total land area of 708.083 hectares and an inland barangay in location with its surrounding baranggays as Brgy. Malbog in the north, Brgy Salvacion in its southern part, Brgy Caditaan in its west part and the baranggay of Busay in its eastern part. The baranggay is divided into ten puroks. Its topography is mostly mountainous and portions of plain fields with the Siuton River almost encircling the whole of the baranggay. Barangay Siuton is 7.8 kilometer away from the metropolitan area with the majority of its roads as concrete and very little portions of rough road. The peoples main mode of transportation to get to the poblacion or metropolitan area is through public tricycles, if public jeepneys are available, people also resort to this mode of transporation, and some who owns

motorcycles uses it as a way to get to the poblacion. It has a total of 2,047 people in its population as of the year 2011 and with a total households of 407. The baranggay has different facilities and infrastructures in it. Before reaching the center of the baranggay, the chapel in Gibalon which was described above as the site of the first mass in Mainland Luzon can be found a few meters from the baranggays pueblo. At the pueblo of the baranggay, the other two churches can be found, one is the church of the Protestants and the other one is the Catholic Church. Majority of the people in the baranggay, though, are Roman Catholics. A high school facility can also be found in the baranggay, a public high school where the high school students from Brgy . Siuton and its nearby baranggays study. An elementary school is also present in the baranggay, a public one, serves as a learning center for the baranggay s school children as well as its neighboring baranggays. A preschool facility can also be found here. A Baranggay Health Station is also situated at the baranggay, this is where the people seeks medical assistance, avail some of the Municipal Health Offices program. The health station in this baranggay is a bit worn out already, some of its parts are already in a bad condition because its battle with time. As I have interviewed the Baranggay Health Midwife and the Branggay Health Workers, they told me that repair of the facility is not feasible at this time because of the revolutionary taxes that are asked for, efforts from the baranggay officials that are willing to repair the facility is useless because of this demands, other Non- Government Organizations have also tried to hand some assistance but still hindrances like this does not permit any progress. Just a few yards from the Baranggay Health Station is the Branggay Outpost where the peace officers of the baranngay go on duty and occasional rule breakers are forced to spend some time as penalty. Beside the Outpost is the entrance to the area where the High School, a

basketball court where the youth and other grown up men are playing basketball for past time or for exercise, and the Baranggay Hall that serves as the office for the officials of the baranggay is situtuated. Beside this is the land mark where all the baranggay officials name and other pertinent information about the baranggay is written. A market where fish are sold can also be found here, made of concrete material. Two bridges can also be found in the baranngay, one is situated just a few meters away from the Baranggay outpost and the other is situated at the eastern part going to Busay. The houses in the baranggay are scattered all trhough the area of the baranggay,some are in the baranggays pueblo while some are farther. Most houses are made from ligyt materials like nipa and bamboo and some are concrete, others have mixed materials of light and concrete used for their homes. Several stores are also found in the baranggay, most of it are small grocery stores. There are also establishments that buys copra that is situated in the baranggay. The main mode of communication in the baranggay, the same with other baranggays,is through cellular phone. Majority of the people here make use of this gadget to communicate in and out of the baranggay. Some who are obliged to use postal office still sends messages through it but they have to travel to the metropolitan where the Postal Office is situated.

Organizational Chart of Baranggay Siuton

Alex H. Maquiling Baranggay Captain

Arturo V. Buenaflor Alfredo H. Coronado Peace and Order Committee Chairman Eduard H. Carrascal Education Committee Chairman Eden B. Santileses Finance Committee Chairman Hanjie G. Buenaflor Agriculture Committee Chairman Reynaldo G. Hollon Waterworks Committee Chairman Lina H. Torres Health Committee Chairman Sports and Development Committee Chairman Ronell R. Mico SK Chairman

Mary Jane Lorenzana Brgy. Secretary

Marites B. Alcario Brgy. Treasurer

Population Profile Total Estimated Population of Baranggay: 2,047 Population Density:

Total Population of Area Surveyed: 2,047 Total Families Surveyed: 457 Total Number of Households Surveyed: 407

Socio- Demographic Profile: Age and Sex Distribution: Table 2.1 Siuton Survey 2011 Age 0-11 1-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 over Male 33 114 145 143 126 77 76 64 58 52 43 39 29 28 41 1,060 Female 28 89 105 120 106 89 59 63 58 48 38 43 29 21 83 979 Total 61 203 250 263 232 166 135 127 116 100 81 82 58 49 124 2,047

The total number of population of Brgy. Siuton is 2,047 for the year 2011. The baranggay is comprised of 407 families residing in the total land area of The calculation of the population density above shows that Brgy. Siuton Table 1.1 shows the age and sex distribution of the baranggay. It reveals that there are more males in the population than the females. It also shows that the age bracket of 15-64 years old comprises the largest portion of the population showing that Siuton has the productive age dominating in the population. The age group with the next largest number is the age group of 014 years old with 777 children comprising it, also showing that the young population is at rise in the baranggay. The age group with the least number is the ages 65 and above, the data revealing a total number of 124 elderlies. Sex Ratio: square meters.

Dependency Ratio:

The dependency ratio is an age-population ratio of those typically not in the labor force (the dependent part) and those typically in the labor force (the productive part). It is used to measure the pressure on productive population. As the ratio increases there may be an increased burden on the productive part of the population to maintain the upbringing and pensions of the economically dependent. This results in direct impacts on financial expenditures on things like social security, as well as many indirect consequences. As for Brgy. Siuton, the dependency ratio is relatively low. This shows that the populations age group who are in the productive stage is more compared to those who are still economically dependent. This may indicate that Brgy. Siuton is a productive community in terms of labor.

Types of Family Pie Graph 1.1

Type of Family

18% extended family

Nuclear Family 82% Extended Family 18% 82% nuclear family

As to the type of family, there are two common types in the Philippines which is also true in the baranggay of Siuton, the nuclear and extended type of family. Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of one or more children living with two parents who are married to one another mostly and are each biological or adoptive parent to all children in the family while an extended type is a family that includes in one household near relatives in addition to a nuclear family. As the pie graph shows above, the baranggay of Siuton have more nuclear families than the extended type, this may show that more families in Siuton prefers to be independent from their families and chooses to live alone with their own families.

Religious Distribution
Pie Graph 2.2

Religious Distribution
10% Protestants

Roman Catholic 90% Roman Catholics Protestant

In this community, only two religious group exists, the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. Though the history of Siuton involves Muslim pirates, no traces of Muslim religion can be found in the baranggay nowadays. The graph above reveals that the number of Roman Catholics dominates, comprising 90% of the population. The remaining 10% of the population are the Protestants in the community. This only shows about the strong influence of Christianity in the community.

Educational Attainment Pie Graph 2.3

Educational Attainment Distribution

15%

25% Elementary Level 60% 60% High School Level 25% College Level 15%

Education, for us Filipinos, is very important, it is often said that this is the only thing that cannot be robbed from us. What the pie graph above shows is that majority of the people in the barranggay have reached elementary level, a few 25% reached high school level and only 15% reached college level. This may be an implication of a low level of understanding of the people and may be a cause of being close minded. It may be hard for the people to embrace new practices that can be beneficial for them. More effort should be given by those who understands more to send important information to the community, a strategy that will make the people embrace and put to practice any given information.

Occupation Table 2.2 Ranking of Leading Occupations in the Baranggay Rank 1 2 3 Occupation Self- employed Farming/ fishing Professional (practice law, medicine, midwifery) 4 5 Overseas contract workers Employment in government/private agencies

The people in this baranggay are mostly self- employed, mostly having their own family businesses. The second most leading occupation in the community is farming and fishing. Next on the ranking are the professionals practicing law and medical related fields. The community also has overseas contract workers belonging in the population. Last in the ranking with the least number is the people employed in government or private agencies. Housing Condition Table 2.3 Ranking of Housing Condition Rank 1 2 3 Type of Material Nipa/ bamboo Semi- concrete Wood

4 5

Concrete Barong- barong

In the baranggay of Siuton most houses are made up of bamboo and nipa, followed by houses made of semi- concrete materials. Third in the ranking are houses made of wood. Only a few houses are made of concrete materials. Also, a few barong-barongs exist in the baranggay. Environmental Indicators Water Supply Table 2.4 Water Sources Level 1 Deep well 4 Households served 2 Level 2 No. of public faucets 7 Households served 114 Level 3 No. of water sources 215 Households served 215 Doubtful Sources (Dug Well) No. of Households sources served 12 76

Water is very important for the survival of any life forms. In Brgy. Siuton, all levels of water sources are being utilized. Majority of the households in Siuton are utilizing level III water source or those with their own faucets in their homes connected to the water system of the municipality. Next mostly utilized is level II water source, these are the public faucets shared by people in the community. Doubtful sources of water are also being utilized in the baranggay, these are the existing dug wells where people get their water supply for consumption in activities of daily living. Least used n the baranggay is the level I source of water, which are deep wells.

Excreta Disposal Pie Graph 1.4

Excreta Disposal

16.5% householdswith toilet 83.5% 83.5%. households without toilet 16.5%

Regarding the excreta disposal of the people in the baranggay, most households in the baranggay have their own toilets, but still there a number of households that dont have their own toilets. This may pose a risk for the people in the community because the human excreta are not disposed of properly and may cause certain diseases.

Garbage Disposal Pie Graph 1.5

Garbage Disposal Practices

Dumping 40% Burning 35% compost pit 25%

Everybody wants to live in a safe environment, free from any disease causing garbage and the like. In the municipality of Magallanes, the garbage truck that collects garbage does not reach the baranggays far from the metropolitan, actually, only the metropolitan area is being served by this dump truck. The people in Brgy Siuton have to resort to their own ways to dispose of their garbage. Majority of the people in the baranggay uses garbage dumping as a disposal practice, some of which are openly dumping at the river, some in their backyards and some in any vacant lot that may be a dumping site. A percentage of 35 resort to burning and some 25% of the people are using compost pits.

Infant Feeding Practices Table 1.5 Infant Feeding Practice Exclusive Breastfeeding Bottle Feeding Mixed Feeding Jan.- June 2011 29 2 10 July- Dec. 2011 29 3 2

The first year of a child is very crucial, for it is in this stage that the foundation of a child is being built. Properly nourished child in this stage of life are said to grow up and develop as healthy and intellectual and that nothing is a better food for a child in this stage than a mothers milk.. The data shown above regarding the infant feeding practices of the mothers in the baranggay shows that a lot of mothers are now oriented of the importance and benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, majority of the mothers are exclusively breastfeeding their young ones. Only a few number of mothers are resorting to mixed feeding and bottle feeding. By mixed feeding, we mean that the mother is both using breastfeeding and bottle feeding as an infant feeding practice.

Electricity Services Pie Graph 2.6

Electric Services

With Electricity 75% Without Electricity 25%

As for the electric services in the baranggay, it has already reached the baranggay, 75% of the households already have availed of its services, but still a few 25% of households are not availing this service. Presence of Schools in the Baranggay Table 2.6 School Facility Pre- school Elementary Secondary Public 1 1 1 Private 0 0 0

Tertiary

Though only a baranggay in a small municipality, Siuton also has its own school facilities. These schools are all government-run. The baranggay has one pre-school facility, one elementary school and one high school institution. This implies that the government and the people give much importance to education and the eagerness of the people to educate the next of our generations. Health Facilities Table 2.7 Health Facility Baranggay Health Station Baranggay Nutrition Center No. present in the Baranggay 1 1

Health facilities are also available in the baranggay. There is one Baranggay Health Station and a Baranggay Nutrition Center. This is where the people avail of the services of the health sector in their respective baranggay. Transport Facility Table 2.8 Most common transport facilities in Brgy. Siuton Ranking 1 Transport Facility Tricycle

2 3

Jeepney Motorcycle

Transport facilities are much needed in the baranggay since it is a bit far from the poblacion to walk to. Vehicles like tricycles, jeepneys and motorcycles are available. The greatest vehicle in number are the tricycles, followed by jeepneys and few families own motorcycles. Health Seeking Behaviors Pie Graph 2.7 Percentage Distribution of health seeking behaviors of the people in Brgy. Siuton

Hospital 65% Albularyo/Hilot 25% Neighbors 10%

Despite the distance of Brgy. Siuton in the poblacion, the prevailing health seeking behavior of the people is still resorting to licensed medical practitioners. There are also a few

who still believes in the healing power of quack doctors. Least among the list of the people is asking help from their neighbors. Family Planning Table 2.9 Family Planning Methods Family Planning Method BTL Pills DMPA LAM No. of Acceptors 16 14 6 10

As for the result of the data gathered for the family planning practices, it shows that only very few couples are practicing family planning. The data reveals that only 16 couples used BTL in family planning, followed by using of OCP to control pregnancy by 14 women. Ten women are using LAM for family planning. And only six women are resorting to DMPA to control pregnancy. Morbidity and Mortality Data Table 2.9 Ranking of the leading causes of morbidity Rank 1 2 Causes of Morbidity Cough and colds, NP Asthma No. of Cases 164 20

3 4.5 4.5 5.5 5.5

Lacerated wound Hypertension Parasitism Influenza Headache

17 9 9 7 7

The highest prevailing cause of morbidity in Brgy. Siuton is cough and colds, most prevalent in the young ones. This may be because of the very unpredictable weather throughout the year. This is followed by 20 cases of asthma, still because of very unpredictable weather and other factors. Seventeen cases of lacerated wound were presented in the data gathered, because of accidents and other unpredicted incidence. This is followed by nine cases of hypertension, a very common occurrence in the old ones and those with very unhealthy lifestyle. Same numbers of cases were presented for parasitism. Influenza and headache have the same number of prevalence throughout the year. Table 2.10 Leading causes of mortality Rank 1 2.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 Cause of Mortality Hypertension Cancer of the throat Status asthmaticus Bleeding gastric ulcer Myocardial infarction No. of Cases 5 2 2 1 1

Siuton has a very low mortality rate for the year 2011. Five cases of hypertension were reported as the leading cause of mortality in the community. This is followed by cancer of the throat and status asthmaticus with two cases each. Bleeding gastric ulcer and myocardial infarction ranked last with each of the mortality cause of one. Leading Causes of Infant and Maternal Mortality Table 2.11 Leading Cause of Infant Mortality Infant Mortality Cause None No. of Cases 0

Table 2.12 Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality Maternal Mortality Cause None No. of Cases 0

Because of the joint effort of the health workers and mothers as well as the other people in the community, this year Siuton reported no cases of mortality for both infant and mothers. III. Problem Identification and Reccommendations 1. Risk for water- borne diseases because of usage of water from doubtful sources. Encourage the people to practice sterilizing water through boiling. Health teachings regarding importance of clean water and the health hazards posed by use of usafe water.

 Encourage the baranggay to provide more public faucets with sources from the water works of the municipality. 2. Improper excreta disposal of some households because of the absence of toilet facilities. Encourage the baranggay officials to include in their projects a anumber of public toilet facilities for the use of the people. Health teaching to the community, emphasizing the importance of proper human waste disposal and the harms it can cause if not properly disposed of. 3. Very low number of acceptors in family planning methods. More information drive regarding the importance of family planning. Emphasizing the benefits of family planning methods. 4. Improper garbage disposal practices like dumping in the river. Health information drive regarding proper waste segregation and disposal. Encourage the people to keep the community clean and siting the benefits of it. Raise up the possibility of the dump truck collecting garbage from the baranggay. 5. Low level of education of majority of the the people which may be a cause of inability to accept new practices. More effort and information drive that is easily understandable by the people for them to understand the information being given to them. IV. Conclusion Based from the data gathered, I therefore conclude that Brgy. Siuton has a few problems existing in the community regarding usage of doubtful sources of water that may pose a risk for the health of the people. Another problem in the baranggay is the improper excreta disposal practices of the people because of the absence of toilets in some of the households. Another

problem presented is very low number of family planning acceptors that may be a result of being not so open minded of the people regarding this methods. The problem of improper garbage disposal practices was also sited. And this may be resolved only if the people would cooperate with the efforts of the concerned citizens to change the wrong practices regarding garbage diposal. The low level of education of majority of the people was also sited that may be a hindrance in changing what is already a tradition and olden practices for the people. It is also safe to say that the people in Siuton have given much importance to maternal and child health because of the zero mortality for both in the year 2011.