13 January 2012, 10am-4pm Program 9:00 am 10:00 am 10:15 am 10:20 am 10:25 am 10:50 am 11:50 am 1:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:45

pm 3:55 pm 4:00 pm Departure in NCPAG Arrival in Payatas & Registration Welcome Remarks Opening Prayer Opening Remarks Jules Guiang, NCGG Chairperson Hon. Rose Dadulla, Brgy Captain Tour Lunch FGD Talk on Major Developments in Payatas Landfill Sharing of FGD Outputs Conclusion Closing Remarks Departure from Payatas

Objectives To understand the situation of the residents of Payatas in the context of their present environment To gain insight on how the local government responds to the needs of the residents of Payatas To suggest ways on the information obtained from the focused group discussion that would promote the welfare of the residents of Payatas

Discussion Points 1. What is the main source of living of the household? 2. What is the Payatas residents view of the types of employment that are being offered in the area? 3. Does the wage obtained from such job enough in meeting the demands of the family? How do they sustain their daily living? 4. What do you think is/are the cause(s) of poor living in your area? 5. How does the local government of Payatas help its citizens with poverty alleviation? Have been the efforts of government effective?

6. Have there been any significant health threats in Payatas? What are

those? Why do these health concerns emerge? 7. How do they provide medical intervention to a sick family member given a limited family budget?
8. What measures and remedies does the local government do to address

the problem? (eg. Do they know that there is a PhilHealth sponsored program?) 9. How does the past environment (dumpsite) compare to the present environment of Payatas in relation to the well being of its residents? 10. Whats your reaction to a greener Payatas that you are experiencing now? 11. What are the governments efforts in preserving the current environment of Payatas? What do you think of these efforts?

FGD Result (Group 9)

The respondent is a widow parent of 6 children. The mother sustains their daily living through tailoring. At times, she also makes some paper twines to supplement her earnings. She relies on her pension to make up for the debts incurred from daily expenses. When she is need of financial assistance, she asks an aid from her relatives. She finds her sources of income vey scanty and unsustainable. Schooling, for her children, just meant adding up to the burden of the family. The children rather work than go to school because they do not want to struggle attending classes having no allowance and worse, with empty stomach. Some of the issues she thought that impede their upward social mobility are: o Poor access on government services (i.e., in-site housing and decent employment among others) o Limited educational attainment which hamper them from getting formal jobs

Issues she cited concerning their barangay include:

Misdemeanor of the barangay officials even the barangay captain herself in dealing with her constituents (eg. Legarda incident) Giving more priority on projects that have observable outputs at the moment than those with desirable long-term outcome (eg. building infrastructures) Assistance to the residents is very minimal as only those who have political affinity with the purok leader can get financial aid Sluggish response to emergency situations and crimes especially during nighttime

o o

o Inadequate livelihood programs

On the other hand, she enthusiastically informed us that their health center is very receptive to their sick family member. They also benefit from medical missions which visit their community once in a while. Being a member of PhilHealth Sponsored Program is another advantage. On the issue of Payatas as a landfill, she recounted that it has improved from being a mere garbage dumpsite into a greener community. She herself affirms that still it brings about health threats to the community but some of the residents oppose the foreclosure as it has been a source of livelihood to them.

Conclusion Poverty

Women and children are the faces of poverty in Payatas. Many are enrolled as indigent beneficiaries of national banner programs like 4Ps and PhilHealth Sponsored Program. They lack proper housing facilities and so they demand for an in-site housing program. Low educational attainment hinders them from getting a decent job.

Employment Livelihood of the residents is not sustainable.

Mostly are employed in informal work where there is no tenure and social security. Small-scale industries needs to be protected that prosper in the community.

Environment

There is an improving landscape of the environment. There should be a citizen watch linked to a NGO which will oversee that emerging changes are still bounded to the welfare of the community.

Health

The health center of the barangay is very responsive to the needs of the residents. PhilHealth Sponsored Program has been of great help to them. The barangay, however, needs to intensify their information dissemination drive and ensure equal access for all.