SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT

PEACE AND ORDER

Peacekeeping force

Keeping peace and order is vital to the public security of Katiku. The barangay council maintains its internal peacekeeping force including the tanod and CAFGU and its coordination with the Marshalls and the volunteer group, CYMPIL, to ensure any threats to community peace and order are identified, prevented and the rapid response is well-coordinated.

Engaging in constructive discussions are part of their tasks. They are also mobilized when threats or actual incidence of disaster situations occur.

Lupon

The barangay dispute resolution body or lupon is also active. Its functions and composition are updated by a barangay resolution. The barangay captain heads the lupon while the kagawad who chairs the council’s peace and order committee coordinates will all peacekeeping forces.​

Resources

The annual general income has a designated budget to cover the functions of the lupon and the peacekeeping force. This resource is allocated under the barangay disaster risk and reduction management fund (BDRRMF) encompassing disaster preparedness and actual calamity. The barangay council also ensures spaces for dialogue and cooperation among inter-barangay captain are open.

Threats and measures

Among the threats that recur are unresolved disputes over land often located in the borders of the barangay, which can lead to one party resorting to violent means or intimidation. Land disputes may also occur among family members.

Other conflicts relate to electoral politics. Though police investigations do not conclude these are politically motivated, there are valid grounds to associate the recent murders of a former mayor, former vice mayor, and municipal councilor with their stance on or participation in electoral politics. All these violent deaths did not go to court; justice to the aggrieved families had never been served.

Motor napping and cattle rustling have also been recorded. Their incidence is neither frequent nor seasonal; however, their recurrence prompts the barangay council to coordinate closely with the peacekeeping force. There used to be a police presence when the incidence of the above was getting high. It was eventually pulled out.

Other security measures are in force. These include a curfew for retail shops and use of videoke after 9pm. Proposal has been made to regulate computer and internet shops that operate until 3am, which is causing disruptions to residents while affecting the sleeping pattern of young users.

An inter-barangay conflict resolution strategy is also in place including prevention and control of threats associated with theft, among others. Katiku coordinates closely with the neighboring barangays of Kalanawi 1 and Tinaungan.

Challenges

Land conflict is increasing and there’s no single solution that that fits each case of conflict. The recent history of armed encounter, evacuation and their long-term effects suggests there are more amicable solutions that work. Lessons from the recent incidence of land conflict stress the importance of understanding the level and manageability of conflict, awareness of applicable rules and regulations, and the importance of outreach, negotiation and dialogue.

Proposed solutions

Where land disputes and other conflicts occur inside the barrio, Lupon must be empowered and responsive. Public should be better informed of the composition and function of the Lupon so they know to whom they should direct their issues.

Where disputes include theft and contesting land claims, the barangay council should improve its outreach to concerned officials of neighboring barangays. Constructive dialogue and developing a mutual course of actions should be the immediate objectives.

The peacekeeping force also needs to improve their coordination and response, Outposts should be fixed while new communication device be procured. Improvement of communication such as icom. Curfew hours must also be strictly enforced, especially to internet café and videoke users.

Citizen patrol is also encouraged. It would help if civilians report to the authority any suspicious activities by unknown by people in the barangay.

Opportunities

The barangay council benefits from its internal peacekeeping force and the functioning Lupon. Periodic coordination and meetings are important. Where the threats to peace and order become difficult to manage after outreach and dialogue have been exhausted, it is justified to consider the support system from PNP or AFP.

AGRICULTURE AND OTHER LIVELIHOODS

Crop areas

In 2018, the Department of Agriculture estimated 1,316 hectares of agricultural areas in Katiku. Ninety-two (92%) are used for rice cultivation, using shallow tube well (STW) irrigation (883 hectares); the other is dependent on rainfall (332 hectares). There were 136 STWs in 2016.

Oil palm plantations occupy 36 hectares; a result of converting either rice or farmlands. Coconuts (26 hectares) and vegetables (2 hectares) are planted sporadically. The rest, or 5 hectares, are for other crops, which may include fruit trees, timber, bananas, and other plants.

Government programs

Government initiatives also benefit the barangay. The PAMANA project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provided 15 cows and 15 carabaos to target beneficiaries.

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Special Assistance for Agricultural Development (SAAD) provided households with 11 swine, 17 goats, 132 mallard duck and scores of shallow tube wells. Households can also tap TESDA’s short training on processing farm produce.

Farmers’ association and access to finance

Farmers are organized into Katiku Farmers’ Association. Registered at the Department of Labor and Employment with, the association has 189 members. One project they are initiating is the establishment of solar electrification of streets and solar pumped water system. Further follow up and coordination are needed to move forward with such projects.

Agricultural financing also varies. Other than informal lenders, individual farmers also access crop loans from Land Bank of the Philippines through its Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) facility. Organized farmers may also access loan from the bank, provided they meet certain criteria.

Other livelihoods

As mentioned in earlier sections, the other livelihoods come from OFW remittances and incomes from professional members of the family. There is no study yet on the extent of contribution of professionals, micro-small entrepreneurs, and OFWs to overall family income.

Livestock raising also provides an important and supplementary income. Chicken and ducks are often raised for consumption while hundreds of households are engaged in raising hogs for the market.

Meanwhile, micro-small entrepreneurs of Katiku are nascent. More than 100 small businesses operate. More than 60 households operate retail stores while the rest now have non-retail shops. Others have their blacksmithing, carpentry, food handling, pharmacy and water refilling shops.

Challenges

Top two challenges confront the agricultural productivity of Katiku, ones that can be addressed. First, it’s the weak infrastructure that needs repair or better replacements. This includes farm-to-market roads (disconnected, unpaved, and dilapidated); desilting; clogged canals; and decrepit solar driers.

Second, with the absence of NIA irrigation system, the increased use of shallow tube wells (STW), though the preferred alternative for many, could lead to the depletion of groundwater. A solar irrigation has been suggested. It would take concerted, thoroughgoing efforts to push this suggestion. It would cost six million pesos (P6,000,000) to cover approximately 140 hectares.

Proposed solutions

The barangay council has yet to maximize its power, responsibility and resources to seize upon opportunities to increase agricultural productivity. It can do this by:

• updating agricultural records and needs assessments;

• coordinating with farmers’ groups so that the latter can be given appropriate support, including issuing resolutions to reinforce proposals to government agencies;

• convening dialogue with government agencies so that the council knows how to tap government programs; and

• establishing farm-to-market road maps and submitting them to municipal assessors’ office.

Opportunities

Moving these recommendations forward can benefit from the services government agencies and other local government units provide. These include their agricultural extension and skills training services, fixed market price of palay (incentive), accessing loan services by Land Bank, and solid waste management support, among others.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Six priorities will inform the mobilization of portions of the barangay internal revenue allocation (IRA) for the next five years. A huge chunk of the budget, infrastructure works involve retrofitting, replacement and the establishment of new facilities designed to increase agricultural productivity, connectivity, food security, incomes, and distribution of public services.

Priorities

Barangay market. The two existing public market buildings, established in 1983 as proceeds of the national award to Katiku, are dilapidated. It’s been long overdue to replace them and build new ones. There’s been an expressed demand by barangay residents for alternative markets that are more accessible, that allow them to save time and transportation costs, and encourage them to sell fresh produce for additional incomes. As such, a new public market, dubbed as SM (Social Market) Katiku has been decided as one of the top investment priorities of the BDC. Plan is to open it once a week, likely during the weekend.

The expected benefits will include additional income for the barangay through rationalized fees. SM Katiku will provide an alternative market for buyers in terms of easier access to fresh produce at a relatively lower price, thereby allowing them to save time and transportation costs. For direct sellers of their produce, the market allows them to save transportation costs and fees. As products come from in and out of Katiku, the market will encourage the neighboring barangays of President Qurino, Buluan, SK Pendatun and Datu Paglat to sell their freshwater, agricultural and livestock products and other items.

It is also safe to assume the social benefits the market could for it might strengthen economic interdependence and further social conversations, which used to define Katiku back in the days the market was still active. It could also incentivize the growth of micro entrepreneurs like makers of kakanin (sweet delicacies) and artisanal products.

Drainage. The canal system needs major repair as it gets choked up during rainy seasons, leading to flood in some purok. 63 of the 132 culverts (22” x 6”) are damaged, affecting purok Lipunan, Pagkakaisa, Buhay, Pag-asa and Maligaya.

Irrigation system. 7 of the 91 deep wells, most of these were provided by the DA are also defective. Repair is needed.

Electrification system. Despite the installed electric systems in Katiku since the early 1980s, several households remain without direct access to electricity. 712 households are members of the SUKELCO cooperative, allowing some households to tap into their grid-connected neighbor. However, 8 households in the barangay proper are without direct power connection. They need support for connection to electrical lines.

Farm-to-market road (FMR). This rural infrastructure has been on the agenda of past councils: they invested in both repair and replacements. The same tasks are on agenda.  Below is the status of 5 FMR.

• Northern part (Ciscolario Diaz road): 12 of 36 culverts (size 36”) are defective;

• Cadastral road: No culvert layout; installation of 42 culverts (size 36”) is recommended;

• Sumilalao road: 15 of 36 culverts (size 36”) is defective;

• Southern part (Katiku-Sinakulay road): 18 of 60 culverts (36 pieces of 24” and 24 pieces of 24”) are defective; and

• Katiku-Tinaungan road: Ongoing concreting with 5 culverts.

Barangay gym and barangay plaza. The right wing of the gym needs completion, which includes putting viewing benches and walling. Meanwhile, the barangay needs not only concreting but a major redesign to serve multiple purposes in a coordinated manner.

Redesign requires landscaping, retrofit of existing buildings, playground, and other facilities; tree propagation and some beautification works. This will entail a multi-year investment from the barangay income, partners and other government units.

Challenges

A huge chunk of the budget, infrastructure works are constantly challenged by the need for repair, replacement and the establishment of new facilities. Costs can be high but prioritization is key. If unfixed, unreplaced and without decisive approach to investments, they will constrain the population from increasing agricultural productivity, connectivity, food security, incomes, and distribution of public services.

Proposed solutions

On SM Katiku, this high-cost high return investment should be a top priority at least for 2019. The first 2 years of SM Katiku involve financial and technical investments for engineering works, marketing strategy, including tapping support from other barngays, setting and collecting fees, service improvements, and sustained supply of in-demand commodities. In the immediate term, the council will need to undertake feasibility study, prepare a work plan, follow procurement rules for affected purchases or spending, and establish support facilities like rest rooms, water supply, electrical, and waste management.

Opportunities

Without being exhaustive, fixtures for defective and damaged drainage, irrigation and solar driers are largely technical and financial, which could be done with ease. Compliance with applicable budget rules is important. Prioritizing the specific work must be put in the work plan.

For drainage work, the Harap mo linis mo; kanal mo harap mo campaign will be launched and monitored. Cash-for-work or bayanihan to drainage canal will also be employed. Coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should also be done.

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