Needs Assessment of Barangay Tanawan, Dingalan, Aurora towards a Proposed Oplan Development Program

This quantitative research determined the help needed by two hundred households resettled in Barangay Tanawan in Dingalan, Aurora after they were devastated by flashfloods in 2004. The road networks of the Barangay were underdeveloped. It also has vast idle lands and unused concrete structures. During difficult times, many among its people go to nearby towns for part-time work. Findings of the study revealed that the resettlement needs help from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Graduate School in terms of Beautification and Sanitation, development of Garden Tourism, Barangay Management and Administration, Development Education and Citizen’s Productivity.A 3-year development program with a budget of P400, 000 was proposed by the researchers to address the needs. Keywords— Barangay, Beautification, Development needs, Sanitation


INTRODUCTION
Barangay Tanawan is a resettlement area for more than two hundred households devastated by flashfloodsin 2004. Currently, Tanawan has underdeveloped road networks and backyards. It also has idle lands and structures which can be turned into something productive.
Tanawan boasts of its water falls. It is also popular for its gardens that sell ornamental plants to tourists from lowlands. Likewise, its forest farm and fresh-water produce, though mostly insufficient to sustain a living, have become the main sources of income for most of the locals. During difficult times when harvest is scarce and income does not suffice for household needs, many among the people of Tanawan go to nearby towns for part-time work.Besides its natural resources, the hardworking people are the strength of the Barangay.
With the foregoing, the researchers from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) Graduate School (GS)believed that Tanawanwas a potential recipient of its extension services.
The NEUST, established in 1908, is one of the most sought-after state universities in the province of Nueva Ecija, Region III, Philippines. It offers quality and Level 3 accredited graduate education programs [1] to its clienteles. Its research goals focus on effective extension services [2] and in producing responsible and productive citizens who are skilled in research [3].
One of the NEUST missions is to transform human resources into productive citizenry to bring about development impact especially to local communities. In connection with this, the Graduate Studies through its Extension Department chose Barangay Tanawan, in Dingalan, Aurora as its adopted Barangay.
The proponents believed that Tanawan might turn into a model barangay and a tourist destination if provided with a needs-based technical assistance. It is where this needs analysis finds meaning and significance.

II.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES This study utilized the descriptive survey and evaluation research. According to [4] as cited in [5], "descriptive survey can systematically describe a situation, problem, phenomenon, service or programs, or provide information or describe the attitude towards an issue". On the other hand, "evaluation research aimed to enhance knowledge and decision making and lead to practical applications" [6] as mentioned by [7]. The respondents of the study who were chosen purposively were 10 barangay officials, 3 local government unit (LGU) representatives and 30 household representatives. They answered questionnaire-checklists that pertain to the needs of Barangay Tanawan. These and other pieces of information gathered through observation and interview served during the first quarter of 2018served as basis in the development of Oplan Development Program for Barangay Tanawan.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 1. Needs Assessment Results
Based on the answers of the respondents and the observation made by the researchers in Barangay Tanawan , the needs were categorized in the following major areas: a. Beautification and Sanitation; b.Garden Tourism; c.
Barangay Management and Administration Development; d. Development Education and; e. Citizen's Productivity.

Garden Tourism (GT)
As to the garden tourism, priority of the respondents was the development of their gardening skills. The households also requested that they be provided with gardening tools, and at the same time be provided with modern trainings and seminars related to propagation, production, and marketing of ornamental plants, vegetablesand root crops so that they could sustain their income even without leaving the barangay for part time work somewhere.

Barangay Management and Administration Development (BMAD)
In terms of the Barangay's political, leadership and managerial needs, it was found out that Barangay Tanawan respondents needed to be oriented on risk reduction, prevention and management (Rank 1, f=100%, n=43), parliamentary procedures (Rank 2, 88.37%, n=43) and transparency and accountability (Rank 3, f=81.40%).

Development Education (DE)
The household leaders identified that their children including some of the adults were in needof remedial and special lessons on core subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science.

Oplan Development Program
The researchers proposed theOplan Development Program with the vision of "Barangay Tanawanas a model barangay and a tourism pride of Dingalan, Aurora" and a mission to "Transform Barangay Tanawan into economically sufficient barangay and idyllic tourist destination in Dingalan, Aurora". The implementation of the project will be from the 3 rd quarter of 2018 to December of 2020.

2.1.Program onBarangay Beautification and Sanitation (BBS)
The Engineering and Technology Department of the NEUST Graduate School (GS) takes charge of the barangay beautification and sanitation program. The objectives of the program are the following: 1. to improve the roadsides within the barangay and Tanawan falls; 2. to plant trees and decorative plants along networks; 3. to ensure installation of compost pits among household; 4. to ensure every household has acceptable comfort rooms; and 5. to improve water system.  /dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/3.6.28  ISSN: 2456-1878 www.ijeab.com Page | 2165

Program on Garden Tourism (GT)
For the garden tourism program, the NEUST GS Department of Business Administration takes charge. The following are the objectives of the program: 1. to encourage every household to grow ornamental plants for marketing; 2. to encourage every household to grow mushroom for marketing; 3. to train the locals in plant propagation and production of organic fertilizers; 4. to facilitate marketing of plant produce in the barangay; and 5. to train the locales in hydroponics.

Program on Barangay Management and Administration Development (BMAD)
The NEUST Graduate School Public Administration Department takes charge of the barangay management and administration development program. The objectives of the program are the following: 1. to train barangay officials in good governance; 2. to assist the barangays in parliamentary processes; 3. to facilitate effective land use in the barangay; 4. to provide survival skill, risk reduction and risk prevention training; and 5. to facilitate or assist in the identification and establishment of barangay evacuation site.