The Importance of a United San Lorenzo South

January 02, 2011
San Lorenzo South
Santa Rosa City, Laguna

There is no significance how big and populated a subdivision is if the phases in it are not united. With over 5,000 residents and homeowners, San Lorenzo South subdivision is composed of seven phases - with Phase 1C sharing four phases. The subdivision is so big that it is subdivided into five barangays, namely; Balibago, Dita, Dila,,Pulo and Malitlit.

As a result, which barangay government really implements peace and order, maintains the infrastructures, and provides the necessary public welfare services  in San Lorenzo South is truly confusing and chaotic. Who disciplines the abusive owners of commercial establishment along the main roads? The tricycle drivers are one to discipline too but no one is taking pains to do it because TODA is so big it encompasses three phases of the subdivision with different homeowners' association that are not united to each other. Crimes, big and small,  happen in each of these phases but it is bound to be repeated all over again because there is no coordination among the phases and no central governing body to monitor and implement peace and order within! Come election and campaign period the subdivision becomes the battle ground for the aspiring candidates and re-electionists barangay officials. Could you imagine how exasperating it is during election campaign period when you see these voluminous candidates from five barangays come, with blaring loudspeakers, honkers, and aids handing out leaflets and their antics to people of the subdivision and campaign?! Add the city and provincial candidates and tell me what it is during those days! Election day comes and the homeowners of San Lorenzo South would flock to the different polling centers of these barangays that cover their area! And what happens after the election? Where 'd go?!!

Overdue. Come on folks, it's about time - and its overdue, that we really think about becoming a barangay seriously! The idea of uniting the whole of San Lorenzo is not actually new - although the talk about becoming a barangay was not yet present then. The early presidents of the homeowners' association, way back in year 1996, had actually attempted to organize the federation where several meetings about a unified San Lorenzo South have materialized. Unfortunately, because the term of these early organizers was only one year they have to step down and transfer the initiative to their successors, who would later fail to continue with the endeavor. Sayang ang initiative, but it usually happens even in our national government. Pag bago ang gobyerno, na-iiba ang takbo ng palakad! Pareho na rin tayo ng national government?! Dapat may core group, or think tank, na katulad ng mga ma-uunlad ng bansa katulad ng U.S.A., Japan, Singapore, atbp, na nagbibigay patnubay sa direction ng ating community!

Failed Unification Revival. I heard that there was a fresh attempt - I think, about a year ago now, to revive the UNIFICATION but it was short lived it never really prospered. Perhaps the new initiators lacked the motivation to carry on with the endeavor because the lacked the necessary motivation?! Perhaps, they really didn't know the big benefit of being a barangay.Perhaps they never realized the benefit that are really due to us but never receive it?! Let me share with you what I've found out from my research!

The benefits and advantages of being a barangay can not be over emphasized. Here are the overwhelmingly numerous advantages and benefits of a being barangay: 1) Source of income will come from 20% -50% share from community and realty taxes collected by the city, provincial, and national government, including fees for issuance of clearances, 2) Power to levy taxes to commercial establishments3) Manage own resources and services like: health and social welfare services, services related to general hygiene and sanitation, beautification and solid waste collection, maintenance of barangay roads, bridges and water supply system, barangay tanods, 4) We create and implement barangay policies that are suitable for our culture and environment , and many more.

San Lorenzo South is very ripe and overdue to become a barangay! The requirements for San Lorenzo South to become a barangay are more than satisfactorily met. We have the required population (not to mention the income) and also meet the rule of the areas to be of being contiguous. The requirement of having to provide a lot for public school is a myth because it is not stated in the law that prescribed the requirements to create a barangay! The main problem is that the phases are not united.If only the officers of the homeowners' association of different associations would talk and unite then the road to becoming a barangay will be widely opened - and it is concrete with red carpet!

You need to talk to unite! Mag-usap kayo mga officers ng mga homeowners association ng bawat phases for the sake of our children. Wala dapat nagmamalaki na mas marami o mas organized sila kaya dapat sila ang nasusunod sa mga dapat gawin sa kabuoan ng San Lorenzo South subdivision. Dapat ay magtulungan ang bawat phases upang ang lahat ay pare-parehong organized, tahimik, masaya,at maunlad! Hindi magiging barangay ang San Lorenzo South kapag isa man lang sa phase ay nagmatigas gaano man sila kalaki o kaliit!

Magsama-sama tayo tungo sa pagiging isang barangay. Sulong, San Lorenzo South tungo sa pagiging isang Barangay San Lorenzo South!

Happy new year sa ating lahat!