Denoman Chronicles: Denoman and Beyond

by Pun-an Denoman

Diversity in nature
Denoman is a small but a seemingly progressive community in Roxas. The community continually grows because there is diversity in nature. There is abundance of different plant and animal species in Denoman. The residents can look into nature for their food, resources and income.Diversity that occurs in nature promotes sustainability.

Endowed with natural resources
Barangay Denoman is blessed with vast rice fields and mountains that are suitable for planting rice, vegetables and growing poultry products. The top economic activity in the barangay is farming, followed by the production of copra. Rice, corn and coconut are the major crops identified in the locale.

Nest of hardworking people
A total of 385 males and 205 females are working. The average annual household income is 60,000. Most of the people are farmers, laborers and vendors.

One community
The barangay is headed by their elected barangay captain, Hon. Emma E. Cabiara. Although the barangay is divided into six puroks, the residents have a sense of community, camaraderie and solidarity. They have a sense of cooperation which will enable them to pursue and achieve a common vision.

Moving forward towards a healthier community
Based from the Rural Health Unit’s Records for January 2011 to March 2012, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) ranks as the top 1 cause of morbidity for children and adults in Denoman.It is followed by pneumonia, bronchial asthma, bronchitis and acute tracheophayrngitis (ATP) respectively. Majority of the problems are respiratory and infectious in nature and the age group that is mostly affected are children. Diarrheal problems and skin diseases are also common in children while for adults, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and hypertension are the next leading causes of morbidity. Pun-anDenomanenvisions an empowered and healthier community. Through different health-related programs and activities (our OPLAN KAUSABAN), we hope to uphold not just the curative aspect of health but more importantly, its preventive and promotive aspects.

Amidst trials and difficulties
Some of the problems encountered in the barangay are floods and landslides. The barangay has a non-operational Center for Disaster and Calamity that could monitor these problems. The watchmen or ‘tanods’ also had undergone training for rescue, disaster and calamity management.

In a place like No other—DENOMAN

"It was like a child's painting coming to life. The vast blue sky giving roof to green mountains and plains, the sun that shines brightly through the clouds, the fresh and warm air softly caressing everything with life, the river running smoothly and creating a melody as it takes course. Indeed this is a picturesque of a paradise. A paradise which happened to be a home -- a little community called Denoman."

Barangay Denoman is a lowland community with a land area of 738.9449 hectares. It is four kilometers from the town proper of the Municipality of Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte. It is divided into six Puroks which are bounded by rivers and mountains. It is surrounded by Barangay Pongolan in the North, Barangays Tanayan and Villahermoso in the West, Barangay Pangulogon in the East and Barangay Cape in the South (Figure 2.1). As of the first quarter of 2012, Barangay Denoman has a total population of 1, 623 and a total of 277 households.

The barangay can be reached through jeepney and tricycle, but their main mode of transportation is the motorcycle or the habal-habal. The barangay also has an elementary school which is located at Purok 2, which is 5.5 kilometers from the town proper. It also has other facilities like the basketball court in Purok 1, the barangay hall and the barangay health center in Purok 2, Barangay Police Auxiliary Unit and the Center for Disaster and Calamity which are also situated in Purok 2 and chapels in Puroks 1 and 4.

Its population is composed of Bisayan and Subanen ethnicities. People communicate in Bisaya, Filipino, and a few Subanen dialects, but their main dialect is Bisaya.

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Barangay Denoman is one of the barangays of the Municipality of President Manuel Roxas Zamboanga del Norte. It is a small but a seemingly progressive community in Roxas. As part of the population medicine strand of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine’s community based curriculum, Barangay Denoman was chosen to be one of the communities in which students will be assigned to fulfill their goal of building a healthier community in the pursuit of becoming competent and effective physicians.

Denoman's Origin

Denoman is said to originate from Deno-man which is the getting together of the Subanen and the Christian people on a special day. They usually gather on Saturdays which is the last day of their farm work. People would bring in their harvest and exchange it for commodities like salt, soap and viand. This Deno-man went on for years until such time, that the neighboring barangay also created their Tabo day and exchange their crops as well. From then on Deno-man continued. People would gather and exchange their crops. This gathering made way to the creation of a barangay Denoman.

On June 17, 1967, Denoman was officially recognized as a barangay on the legal basis of RA 5077.

Denoman's Organizational Structures

Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan

Barangay Denoman is headed by the elected Barangay Captain Hon. Emma E. Cabiara. She is aided by the members of the Sangguniang Barangay, whose members are the councilors and by the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Below are the names of the Barangay Officials.

Barangay Councilors:

Hon. Modesto T. Cabrera

Hon. Johnbarry S. Cordero

Hon. Norberto T. Anguit

Hon. Nicolas B. Belbestre

Hon. Nilo B. Narca, Sr.

Hon. Jomel E. Gecale

Hon. Antonio D. Uga

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman: Hon. Kimberly Jane E. Dante

Barangay Secretary: Ms. Elizabeth G. Gicale

Barangay Treasurer: Ms. Hazel G. Oliveros

The Purok Leaders

Denoman is divided into 6 Puroks, each represented by a Purok leader. Purok leaders disseminate information to the people within their territorial jurisdiction on upcoming community assemblies, barangay or purok activities, and other important announcements. The purok leaders are part of the Barangay Development Council, which shall assist the sanggunian in setting the economic and social developments of the barangay.

The leaders of each Purok are as follows:

Mr. Claudio T. Gicale Purok 1

Mrs. Estrellita B. Gallemit Purok 2

Mr. Alejandro Montefalcon Purok 3

Mr. Samuel Belbestre Purok 4

Mr. Concordio Cadano Purok 5

Mr. Jaime Gilberio Purok 6

The Barangay Police Auxillary Unit

Barangay Denoman has its own Barangay Police Auxiliary Unit (BPAU) headed by Norberto Anggit who is also a barangay kagawad. Under him are 11 watchmen or ‘tanods’. Their station is located in Purok 2. They help maintain the peace and order in the neighborhood. They also underwent training for rescue, disaster and calamity management.

The following are the 11 watchmen of the Barangay Police Auxillary Unit (BPAU) in Denoman.

1. Abellino Cabrera- Chief

2. Ronald Montallana

3. Ruel Sibal

4. Tito Sibal

5. Jes Montifalcon

6. Jessie Duran

7. Maing Belvestre

8. Dionisio Emotin

9. Vitalyano Aljas

10. Qoinco Balansag

11. Elmo Tumobag Jr.

The Health Sector

The health sector is represented by Ms. Irenea B. Acosta, a registered midwife. She is assisted by Ms. Merlyn Baguinat, a barangay health worker. Ms. Acosta only comes to Denoman twice a month to give immunizations. Ms. Rebecca Frongoso, a barangay nutrition scholar, also helps deliver basic nutrition and health services in the barangay. The barangay also organized a Community Health Team who assists the midwife in the delivery of health care.

Calamity and Disaster Center

Due to its geography, poorly constructed pavements and pollution, flash floods has become one of the community's concern during rainy season. There were recorded mortalities in the barangay for the past years and as a result, a Calamity and Disaster Center was established. A group of trained community volunteers serve as the main responding team during disasters. the Calamity and Disaster center is located in Purok 2 which is the most accessible Purok in the Denoman.

Denoman's Socioeconomic Status

The top economic activity in barangay Denoman is farming, followed by production of copra. Rice, Corn and Coconut are the major crops identified in the locale. A total of 385 male are working, and earning an average annual income of 40,000. A total of 205 female are in a job with an average income of 20,000 annually. 60,000 is the average annual household income in the said barangay. Other sources of earnings include coconut, livestock and plowing. There are 134 member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in which they receive the following benefits: P500 per month intended for health and nutrition needs of the family and P300 per month per child for 10 months a year, to a maximum of 3 children per household.

Recreation and Socialization

The people in the barangay have many activities where they meet and socialize. They have a Multipurpose covered court (MPCC) in Purok 1 where they conduct their Barangay assemblies headed by their respective barangay officials. These Barangay assemblies are conducted twice a year and usually their assemblies are about updates on budget and programs of their barangay. These assemblies are also an avenue where they can express their concerns in the barangay. The MPCC is also where they hold their "Tabo" every Saturday. The “Tabo” is when they would set up the court into a mini market and sell clothes and footwear. The market is open up to 5 in the afternoon. They would also play volleyball and basketball in the MPCC.

Organizations like Senior Citizen Organization, Women's Organization, Hawak Kamay, Lando Bibo, and Pantawid are also present in Denoman. These organizations have their own goals but they usually go hand in hand in helping the community. They conduct regular meetings wherein all members gather to talk and meet with the other members of the organization and voice out their concerns.

The people also enjoy singing in videoke. They also socialize through drinking tuba and playing Mahjong and card games.

HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE COMMUNITY AS PERCEIVED BY THE GROUP

LIFESTYLE

In terms of lifestyle, the people of Denoman consider rice planting and other agricultural works as their main form of exercise. They are also fond of eating salty foods such that it has already become a part of their daily food preference.

INCOME BELOW POVERTY THRESHOLD

Seventy-two percent of the households in Denoman are below the poverty threshold according to the Barangay Profile Form 2012. This poses a health problem because opportunities to improve health status are decreased since their budget is mostly allocated to food and education.

HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIORS

Most of the people in Denoman seek consultation only when their symptoms are becoming worse. But with less severe illness they use herbal medicines and use self-medication to relieve the symptoms.

Based on the Service Delivery Information Review, 57% of pregnant women goes to their scheduled antenatal visits which is below the target 80% ; 11 % pregnant women goes to 4 or more antenatal visits still below the 80% target; pregnant women with 2 or more doses of TT immunization almost near the 85% target with percentage of 79%; and pregnant women who drinks their complete iron is below the target of 85% with only 59%..

HYPERTENSION

One of the top 10 morbidity cases in Denoman is hypertension. This disease is prevalent in the community and the people verbalized that they see it as a major health problem in the community.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES

Majority of the problems are respiratory and infectious in nature and the age group that is mostly affected are children.

WASTE DISPOSAL

The community of Denoman has no system for garbage disposal. The people do not practice waste segregation which results in poor community sanitation. Poor sanitation if not corrected can be detrimental to health.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The barangay has unpaved roads, no streetlights and no bridge railings. One mortality was recorded early this year to have drowned due to the danger posed by the barangay’s infrastructures.

NO HEALTH BUDGET

Local statistics showed that no budget was specifically allocated for health, resulting to poor health financing and to the poor delivery of health services: Lack of medicinal supply, lack of health facilities.

LACK OF HEALTH PERSONNEL

One of the perceived problems is the lack of personnel; there are only 3 health providers for a total population of 1623. This is a problem because there is an increase in the demand for health services but the number of personnel to address the people's health problems and needs are lacking.

MALNUTRITION

Based from the local data, nutritional status in Denoman has improved throughout the six years. However, we still consider malnutrition as a problem since there are still figures to consider. Also, the data gathered is only for pre-school children. It is also important to consider other age brackets such as the school age children.