Barangay Maguinao: voices of distress amid barking noise | Althea Torres, Jersey Chloe Lae Landayan, Ron Christian Baltazar

Citizen and Community Journalism 

The entangled issue of waste management and stray dogs in Barangay Maguinao, San Rafael, Bulacan: An In-depth Article 

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Barangay Maguinao: voices of distress amid barking noise 

Althea Torres

Jersey Chloe Lae Landayan 

Ron Christian Baltazar 

Set by essential establishments– two schools, three churches, and a public market nearby– usually within walking distance or within a tricycle’s vicinity, the residents in Barangay Maguinao live a comfortable life. 

Since 2020, a high influx of people looking for better education and work opportunities found residence in the barangay with over 30% of its residents being apartment renters while the rest are permanent dwellers and natives. 

Almost all people in Barangay Maguinao have stable employment. Within Purok II, eight sari-sari stores are situated every block.

But despite its seemingly perfect situation in Maguinao, long-standing issues exist. 

The lack of proper waste segregation getting drainage systems clogged up leading to foul smells and possibly other kinds of illness caused by improper waste management, and stray dogs and other pets loitering throughout the place posing security and health risks are the two main problems voiced out by the long-term citizens of Maguinao to the former administration yet little to no action was taken. 

        Clogged drainage and dogs wandering the streets of Maguinao – Video by Jersey Landayan

Every evening, pets are left outside the resident’s homes letting them leave their droppings everywhere, exposed to elements, and eventually dumped onto drainages earning them the nickname ‘Tae Street.’ 

The absence of a set schedule for garbage collection left the residents no choice but to just leave their waste bags outdoors in the morning in hopes for a garbage truck to come by which results in stray animals scattering them. 

Security and health concerns 

When asked about her concerns within the community, Lorry “Ate Lorry” Inosanto, a 50-year-old rice retailer residing in Purok II, Maguinao since birth, firstly highlighted the issue on the lack of surveillance cameras and dead post lights in the respective corners which she emphasized ‘could pose danger, especially at night when the streets are dark.’ 

“Dati do’n sa kanto, may nanakawan ng motor. Hindi masyadong makita ‘yung mukha sa CCTV kasi medyo malabo. Importante ‘yun (CCTV) for security reasons.”

Ate Lorry then brought up, as well as by other residents, the presence of stray dogs which she sees as a threat to people due to past cases of dog bites within the barangay. However, mainly, the concern regarding stray dogs is that every night, they rummage through piles of garbage and bins, causing chaos the morning after. 

Despite the few reported cases of dog bites in Barangay Maguinao, local officials have not neglected the issue as they consistently administered free anti-rabies programs every summer. 

In the eyes of a dog owner

While residents blame the dogs for the scattered trash in the barangay, Ate Lorry believes that it is the dogs’ nature and instinct to play around trash piles and bins. 

The dog owner of three voiced her concern, stating, “Alam naman natin ang mga aso, matalino ‘yan, pero pa’no kung nagugutom? Kahit ang tao, ‘pag nagugutom, ‘di ba kakalkalin ang basura. Para sa akin, hindi solusyon na i-blame natin ang aso, siguro mas dapat tayo ang mag-adjust, ‘di ba? Dahil tayo ang tao. May sistema naman siguro, ‘di ba?”

        Lorry Inosanto on the issue of stray dogs in the community

“Hindi kasalanan ng aso ko ‘yun lagi… May alaga rin naman [ang iba] na aso na binibitbit– mga walk the dog– kung saan-saan din naman nila pinapadumi, which is napagkakamalan tuloy ‘yung dog ko na siya ang may kasalanan kasi ‘yung aking dog ‘yung hindi nakatali… which is unfair naman minsan,” she added further saying that dogs are still helpful in some ways despite them being dogs. 

The government’s response 

Coincidentally, it seems that the officials took note of Ate Lorry’s concern, as they reinforced an existing policy this year– Kapasiyahan Blg. 2008-192 | Pambayang Kautusan Blg. 2008-09, which was an initiative by the mayor of San Rafael, Bulacan, prompting responsibility for residents to properly leash, clean after their dogs, and even compensate in case their pet bites the locals, to avoid the “concerns” of scattered trash by the dogs. 

        A notice posted in public bulletin: ‘PAALALA: MAGING RESPONSABLE SA ALAGANG ASO’ – Photo by Jersey Landayan

This ordinance stood as an answer for Ate Lorry’s concern, stressing that it should be the people who have control over these things, rather than blaming dogs as humans have the power to control these situations. And beyond just the cleanliness of the barangay, this initiative also promotes public safety (as concerned by other residents), ensuring leashed dogs are less likely to cause accidents or pose threats to people. 

Entangled with this, headed by local officials, the residents also conduct a “barangay cleaning” activity every Saturday– in which they clean the area checking and fixing the trash bins to stand properly, preventing stray dogs from scattering trash.

The barangay captain of Maguinao, Imelda Landayan, being aware of the rising concerns about improper waste management in the area also spearheaded the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to help reduce waste by providing cleaning tasks for disadvantaged individuals, for extra income too. 

    

        Residents, barangay officials, and TUPAD workers conducting the weekly barangay cleanup  – Photos via Facebook.com/Brgy. Maguinao San Rafael Bulacan  

Last May 17, the Ecology Energy Corporation donated trash bins that are immediately distributed around every purok. 

In a Facebook post, the local government of Maguinao again advised its residents to be disciplined in disposing of their trash. 

Ate Lorry’s conclusion  

“Para sa’kin ang aso, ang mga aso, ay parang mga kapamilya rin. Parang isang kapamilya ang pag-aalaga sa aso– kailangan mo rin itong irespeto, tratuhin nang maayos, at kausapin din dahil may damdamin din sila,” Ate Lorry highlighting that dog ownership requires mindfulness and responsibility.  

Despite her rice retail business thriving in the community, Lorry Inosanto with all of her life experiences concluded living since birth in flawed Maguinao:  

        Lorry Inosanto on living in Barangay Maguinao 

“Wala namang perpektong lugar. Lahat ng lugar kumbaga mayro’ng mga problema at mayro’n din namang nagagawang solusyon ang mga namamahala dito.” 

For the residents of Barangay Maguinao, voicing out their concerns might have worked to continue living a comfortable life. But for other communities where the government seems to be neglecting and out of reach, would the case be the same?