SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
LOYOLA SCHOOLS
Participatory Resource Ecological Assessment of Barangay San Jose, Rizal Province, Philippines
towards an Effective Disaster Risk Management Plan
Roque Adarna
Dezarie Aragon
Jayson Baldesco
Ma. Flordeliza P. Del Castillo
Carl Francis T. Castro, EnP
Cathy Clarin
John Dalupang
Sophia Angeli Dayrit
Ashley Marie Dimanlig
Jhonna Joy Fernandez
Nadine Jacinto
Joeven Jacogoy
Oliver Javier
Elirozz Carlie Labaria
Lovely Nazareno
Chris Tan
Benjamin Velasco
Authors
Jean-Marie Isabelle D. Lau Wang
Editor
Dr. Liza L. Lim, PhD
Adviser
October 5, 2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter I
Socio-economic Profile of Barangay San Jose
Chapter II
Geophysical Assessment
Chapter III
Hazards and Risks Assessment
Chapter IV
Institutional Assessment of Vulnerability
Chapter V
Data Analysis
Chapter VI
Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter VII
Appendix
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 Introduction 
According to Russ (2002), the activities of human beings have had and will continue to
have a significant impact on the earth’s environment. It has been said that 60 percent of the
earth’s land surface is under the management of people but 100 percent of the earth’s surface is
impacted by the practices of that management. Because of the global warming or climate change
brought about by the activities of humans, several catastrophes have started to materialize.
Extreme weather conditions have been experienced, causing severe damages not only to humans
but also to the whole ecosystem.
One such area often severely affected by extreme weather conditions is Barangay San
Jose, nestled at the oft inundated heart of the Municipality of Rodriguez, which lies at the foot of
the Sierra Madre mountain range. In 2009, flood waters brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy
(Ketsana) submerged the barangay almost three storeys up in many areas and, since then, the
story has remained the same—its population of 200,000 is now constantly at the mercy of the
skies and the nearby shallow Marikina River.
A group of student researchers engaged in participatory action research with the
community of Barangay San Jose to answer why the municipality’s largest voting population,
supposedly given extra attention by the local government for this very reason, remains vulnerable
and how can this be changed. The researchers assessed the community’s vulnerabilities, needs
and capacities, and produced maps and profiles that will ultimately be used towards a realistic
and effective disaster risk management plan.
As defined by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, disaster risk
reduction plans are for the reduction of damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes,
floods, droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of prevention. Disaster risk reduction is the
concept and practice of lessening hazards through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the
casual factors of such disasters. Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people
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and poverty, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness and
early warning for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk reduction.
As we welcome this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction on the 13th of
October, it seems timelier than ever to create and/or improve disaster risk reduction and
management plans for a highly vulnerable community.
Presented in this paper are the researchers’ findings, sectioned into the following
chapters: Socio-Economic Profile, Geophysical Assessment, Hazards and Risks Assessment,
Institutional Assessment of Vulnerability, Data Analysis and, finally, Recommendations and
Conclusions.
Significance of the Study
One big challenge for every community is to be able to protect developmental progress
earned towards socio-economic aspects of their lives against the negative (economic, social,
psychological and physical) effects of disasters. Socio-Economic Perspective of Disaster Risk Reduction
and Recovery– Understanding Socio-Technological Means of Sustainability by Rajib Gupta and Arup
Barman puts it so eloquently saying,
Disasters cause loss of life, valuable assets, degrades the environment, thereby damaging
acutely the social and economical foundation of our civilization, hence time has now come to
initiate plans and programs for risk reduction, mitigation, readiness and recovery for
sustainability of our growth, development and progress. The fulcrum of development has
been achieving desperate and robust economic growth even at the cost of damages to
livelihoods, environment, socio-economic structures, culture and increased levels of risk,
exposure and vulnerabilities. The poor are becoming poorer, inequities in the societies are
widening and large scale political instability urgently merits a much deeper, pragmatic,
integrated and proactive approach to disaster risk reduction and recovery plans and policies
in the context of the dynamic socio-economic macro –environment which would lead to
success and sustenance of development of societies and communities at large. Mostly, due to
tight budgets governments tend to spend less on prevention and risk reduction and more on
post-disaster response and recovery because investments in disaster risk reduction may not
yield visible and measurable benefits for many years and also get less media attention and
thus limited non- governmental funds. Disaster loss is assessed in terms of injuries and death,
destruction of fixed assets and infrastructure, disruptions in the flow of goods and services
adversely effecting economic factors like GDP growth rates, indebtedness levels and fiscal
deficits of a nation ignoring the social loss (Barman & Gupta, 2012).
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This paper aims to be part of that “pragmatic, integrated and proactive approach to
disaster risk reduction” in the face of our country’s political incapacities and shortcomings,
giving the community leaders and members alike the information and tools they need to be able
to cut losses, build resiliency and protect development and growth, especially among
impoverished groups.
Shown below is a graphical representation of intrinsic relationships embedded between
risks, vulnerabilities and capacities, natural hazards and potential disasters with economic and
social development (Figure 1). This paper will touch on all of these aspects and will then offer
recommendations for better decisions and planning to reduce the risks, exposures and
vulnerabilities of lives and of progress in Barangay San Jose.
Scope and Limitation
The researchers’ discussions, interviews and activities were limited to about only eight
hours and included no more than 50 residents from Sitio Libis, Sitio Sabah and the Sabah
Muslim Compound in Barangay San Jose. All of the participants were adult women with the
exception of two men. With these constraints in obtaining complete and objective data, the
researchers referred to secondary sources in order to verify information collected. It must be
noted that even these secondary sources, such as land maps and municipal profiles, proved
challenging to acquire especially from local governments.
Figure 1. Relationships embedded between risks, vulnerabilities and capacities, natural hazards and potential
disasters with economic and social development
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Source: (Barman & Gupta, 2012)
Methodology
Effective Participatory Research requires a willingness on the part of participants to
disclose their personal views of the situation as well as their own opinions and experiences.
Given this, the researchers facilitated sufficient openness and a “safe space” in which
participants feel comfortable in expressing themselves, which was key to primary data gathering
methods used, namely focused group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews, structured
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exercises, historical transect, community mapping and semi-structured interviews (informal
conversations).
Data was also collected through transect walks and secondary sources, including various
national and local government agencies and Geographic Information System programs such as
Google Earth. Each of the following sections will elaborate further on selected methodologies.
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 Chapter 1 
SOCIO- ECONOMIC PROFILE
Introduction
This Socio-Economic Profile of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal Province is made to
provide an updated database for residents, decision makers and researchers alike and aims to be
useful as a basis for the creation of a comprehensive disaster risk management plan for the
community. This profile also intends to illustrate the current situation of Barangay San Jose
especially in connection to their disaster preparedness and adaptability and how these are tied to
social and economic factors.
This profile contains information about the barangay’s physical profile, history,
institutions, residents, infrastructures and facilities as well as the barangay’s livelihood, health,
protective services, sports and recreation, and environment. The researchers have also included
all the issues and concerns shared by the community during their discussions regarding the
abovementioned categories.
Methodology
Note Card Exercise & Focus Group Discussion
Community participants were asked to write down their thoughts and to complete the
following statement on the categories of Education, Health, Livelihood and Environment:
“In X number of years, I’d like our community to have/be ___________”.
“Our community could be better in terms of ______________.”
The purpose of this exercise was to find common ground and identify shared priorities and
values. This tool was used to bring out the concerns of the participants regarding their
community’s education, health, livelihood and environment and then juxtapose them with what
they would like their community to transform into. In this manner, gaps between their visions
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and their community’s current situation can be identified and used as a starting point in
discussing and suggesting possible steps to achieve their ideal community.
Semi-structured Interviews
Informal and conversational interviews with community heads and members were used
to obtain information on general and specific information on the problems, vulnerabilities and
capacities of Barangay San Jose.
Secondary Data Review
This method was necessary as data gathered from primary sources were insufficient and
therefore could not be used to make fair and complete analyses, conclusions and
recommendations. Secondary sources used here were obtained mainly through government
entities and websites.
The researchers analysed the data gathered by first ensuring the data’s accuracy and
consistency through the comparison of data from different sources. Similarities and differences
were noted—especially those seen between community leaders and constituents—and from
these, issues and concerns were identified.
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SOCIO- ECONOMIC PROFILE
Presentation of Data
Physical Profile
Barangay San Jose is located in the municipality of Rodriguez, Rizal Province. Rodriguez
was previously known as Montalban—from the term alba mont which means “white mountain,”
pertaining to the seemingly white colour of the mountains in Rodriguez. On February 29, 1908,
Executive Order No. 20 separated Montalban from San Mateo and from then on was considered
an independent municipality (Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal, 2009). In 1982, Batasang
Pambansa Bilang 275 was passed, officially changing the name of Montalban to Rodriguez in
honor of the late Senate President Eugolio Amang Rodriguez (Chan-Robles, 1998).
The land area of Barangay San Jose is 1,045.28 hectares, making it the 6 th biggest
barangay in the municipality of Rodriguez (Frias, Socio-Economic Profile - Barangay
Development Plan ng Barangay San Jose Rodriguez Rizal, 2010). As shown in the province’s
land use map, the whole of Rodriguez is bound on the east by a large parcel of idle land declared
as protected areas. The land of Barangay San Jose was initially used for agricultural purposes but
was eventually developed into subdivisions and residential areas with some foliage and small
patches of idle land dotting the sitio of Sabah (Frias, Socio-Economic Profile - Barangay
Development Plan ng Barangay San Jose Rodriguez Rizal, 2010).
Barangay San Jose, about 27 kilometers from the country’s capital of Manila, is accessible
via Litex Road, Quezon City and Marikina City by both public and private transportation. There
is a proposed construction of C-6 Expressway that will traverse the municipality, potentially
increasing the accessibility of the barangay to and from different areas. The estimated time of the
completion of this project is on 2017.
The barangay is surrounded by major roads, on which commercial areas located. Going
in, crowding the minor roads are dense clusters of residential communities. The barangay houses
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twelve (12) private subdivisions, one (1) housing project and four (4) relocation sites (Frias,
Socio-Economic Profile - Barangay Development Plan ng Barangay San Jose Rodriguez Rizal,
2010).
Figure 1. Land Use Map of Rizal Province
Source: (Rizal Provincial Government, 2013)
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These 12 private subdivisions are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Litex Village
Christineville Subdivision
Amityville Subdivision
Monte Vista Subdivision
Vista Rio Village
Pamahay Village
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Forestryville
Torres Subdivison
Evergreen Royale Subdivision
Villa Ana Maria Subdivision
Monte Brisa Subdivision
Mediterranean Heights
The relocation sites are Montalban Heights, Kasiglahan Village, Sub Urban Village, and
the newest site, Jovil-Balikatan. In addition to these, there is a housing project for the
constituents of Iglesia ni Cristo called the Pamayanan ng Tagumpay. The Old Barrio, or the San Jose
Proper, is divided into six (6) Purok and four (4) Sitio, including Sitios Sabah and Libis. Land
ownership is mostly through “rights” instead of the legitimate land titles.
Majority of the houses in Barangay San Jose are elevated 1 to 3 feet off the ground and
are made mostly of cement with some wood parts. Exceptions are several shanties in Sitio Sabah
that were made of lighter materials, such as galvanized iron sheets and plywood. Generally, the
barangay appears to have not been subject to reblocking, which could improve the barangay’s
security, living condition and mitigation of floods, fire and the like. Reblocking could also
encourage security of tenure
History
Rodriguez (then Montalban), Rizal is said to have been established by Padre Eustaquio in
1871 (Berkman International, Inc., 2013). Original settlers were farmers and fishermen while
some engaged in gold panning or “dulang.” As the area was naturally a good settlement site with
its land and water resources, people trickled in ever since. Many, on the other hand, were
relocated from informal settlements around Metro Manila, specifically from Quiapo, Manila and
Trinoma area in Quezon City. The original settlers presently comprise 5 - 10% of the current
population.
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With the continuous influx of people into Barangay San Jose since its early days comes
the increase of population density. In 1999, San Jose was declared as the new resettlement area
for Pasig River bank residents, Payatas landslide victims, Pinyahan fire victims and families
displaced by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects. As of 2012, 128
families had been resettled and an additional 64 families awarded lands (but have yet to move to
the community) from the Wawa- Montalban Eco-Tourism Sub-Project.
The rise in the population paved the way for the increasing presence of government
services, non-government organizations and commerce. A gradual narrowing of the Marikina
River, said to have covered the area of Sitio Libis some decades ago, has also been noted and
attributed to the increase in population in addition to siltation and the deposition of soil from the
Sierra Madre mountain range.
Institutions
Local Government Unit
Barangay San Jose is presently headed by the following individuals:
Chairman
Barangay Councilors or Kagawad
Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman
Barangay Secretary
Barangay Treasurer
Antonio J. Umali
Romy A. Pastrana
Samuel A. Balibalos
Leo R. Zamora
Jose SJ. Malapo
Ireneo B. Mirafuentes
Elmer E. Espiritu
Epifanio B. Casolita Jr.
Rose Ann O. Gonzales
Jennifer D. Cahatol
Maricris A. Nalicat
The barangay budget given by the Department of Budget and Management is prorated
according to the current population and amounts to about Php 34,000,000.00 annually. First, the
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budget is deposited to a bank account before disbursement and then the barangay decides on
how much to allot to selected projects and activities such as tournaments and fiestas.
Other than barangay-based projects, the municipal and provincial entities also sponsor
endeavours, such as the recently launched Ynares Eco System (YES) to Green Project. Formally
launched this September by Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares, the YES to Green Project
promotes three components—greening, cleaning and recycling—and includes an objective on
disaster risk reduction and management.
One of the participating community leaders shared that the provincial government also
funds a livelihood program but its services are limited to those who are members. Members can
be given capital to start their own business ranging from Php 20,000.00 to 50,000.00, which must
be paid back in instalments monthly. The types of businesses covered by the program are rice
selling or distribution, piggery, poultry and handicrafts such as brooms, banig and baskets.
When asked about microfinance or lending institutions in the barangay, the community
leader of Libis shared that the barangay captain was very generous and was always willing to help
out when he could. On the other hand, residents didn’t seem as pleased, repeatedly pointing out
that there was favoritism in the mentioned system and, moreover, the same barangay official
built walls around his home to keep out floods and, as consequence, increased the chances of
flooding in adjacent areas.
Another barangay official was subject to the residents’ complaints which detailed how
the former required 7,000 pedicab drivers to register and buy stickers from him at Php 50.00 each.
This mandatory registration was not backed by any resolution or order from the local
government and, furthermore, the official did not remit the money to the barangay. Participants
shared that, fortunately, this has already been resolved.
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People’s Organizations
The People’s Organizations (POs) in Barangay San Jose are neighbourhood associations
organized by the residents themselves to foster community involvement in their area. The POs
are Libis Reyes Neighborhood Association, led by Aurora Adriano; Sabah Neighborhood
Association, led by Araceli Dellosa; and the Sabah- Muslim Compound Neighborhood
Association.
Non-Government Organizations
An active non-government organization in the barangay is the Socio-Pastoral Institute
(SPI) which was established in 1980 by a group of priests and religious and promotes the
mission-vision statement, “SPI today promotes the Spirituality of Stewardship and the building
of disaster resilient communities to local churches, various Non-Governmental Organizations,
People’s Organizations and other faith groups.” SPI is headed by the following individuals:
Board Members
Executive Director
Bp. Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD, DD
Bp. Broderick Pabillo, DD
Sr. Maluz Mijarez, OSA
Fr. Luciano Pili
Sr. Auring R. Zambrano , ICM
Jose Maximillano Lumawig
Edna Francisco
Mila Garcia Glodava
Jose Clemente
SPI is best known in the barangay for their project Building Disaster Risk Reduction
Mechanism for Highly Vulnerable Communities, which was prompted by the ravages left by Tropical
Storm Ondoy in 2009 and was funded by the international development charity Christian Aid
with the help of the Embassy of Japan, which later came in to offer relief support after the
typhoon. SPI partnered with the Home Owners’ Association of Suburban and the Sabah
Neighborhood Association and conducted disaster risk reduction trainings in these communities
to help boost preparedness for future disasters (Socio-Pastoral Institute).
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Infrastructure and Facilities
Water
In most informal settlements, access to safe, drinking water continues to be an issue. In
fact, while Sitios Sabah and Libis have water supplied by Manila Water, the Sabah Muslim
Compound still gets their water from underground wells through only two hand pumps in the
area.
In terms of accessibility and cost of this basic utility, variations depending on household
income (if they can afford the cost or not) and distance from the clustered water meters come
into play. Households that can afford to shoulder the water meter and piping have their own
piped water. On the other hand, the farther a household is from the clustered water meters, the
higher the costs they have to bear due to the number of pipes needed to transport the water.
Houses with no piped water get their daily supply from public hand pumps scattered in the area.
Some households drink water right from the hand pumps or after boiling while some buy
drinking water for Php 20.00 per gallon.
Electricity
The main source of electricity in the community comes from the Manila Electric
Company (Meralco). Each household spends an estimated cost ranging from Php 200.00 to
3,000.00 per month. Even with this data, it is to be noted that not all homes have supplied
electricity for them to use for their daily activities. Some of these households resort to tapped or
contracted electricity from those who have legal connections with certain fixed amounts,
depending on the number of plugged appliances or equipment (e.g., Php 100.00 for a lightbulb/
month, Php 150.00 for an electric fan/ month, Php 250.00 for a television/ month).
Tapping can be considered a source of income for those with legal connections but, in
the same manner, exposes them to the risk that those who “tap” from their meters will not be
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able to pay on time or at all, which poses a problem especially if those who have legal
connections don’t always have the resources to shoulder all of the expenses and fees.
Connectivity and Communication
Only a handful of households have access to internet connection in the barangay. In fact,
according to Libis leader Aurora Adriano, she is the only one in the sitio with an internet
connection. Most individuals own and use cellular phones, with connection less of an issue with
a Smart Communications tower located in Sitio Sabah. However, some residents expressed their
concerns about the potential health and safety risks posed by the presence of the cellsite tower
and the radiation it emits.
Sewage and Waste Disposal
Only a few households have septic tanks installed and those without one (commonly
found in Libis) commonly do not dispose of wastes properly with some children even defecating
in the streets or wherever they feel like doing so. Liquid waste disposal goes straight to open
canals which appear to lead to the Marikina River.
Interviewees from Sabah have complained about the improper disposal of human waste
which they attribute to sickness among children in the community. Solid waste management and
the lack thereof is also a pressing issue in the barangay. Some concerns raised are:
 Garbage trucks do not collect regularly and have to be paid Php 50.00 per pick-up per truck,
with the proceeds going to the municipal government instead of to the barangay
 Proliferation of junk shops which do not follow regulations in storage and disposal. The junk
shop located between Sabah and the Muslim Compound burn trash at night, which emits
smoke that enters homes. The same junk shop also washes trash in the Marikina River, and is
believed to be causing skin conditions and diarrhea to those exposed to it, especially to
children.
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Transportation
Being a community that is near a waterway, residents employ vehicles called balsa to cross
the Marikina River to Kasiglahan Village at Php 5.00 per trip per person. Another option to
reach Kasiglahan is to ride motorcycles which charge Php 10.00 per trip per person. Other
modes of land transportation are also available to residents such as pedicabs or padyak, tricycles,
jeepnies, and various kinds of private transportation.
Security
Teams which look after the community’s security and welfare are located within the
barangay and municipal halls. These include police, fire and rescue (emergency) teams, which are
all accessible through mobile phones. Contact details are posted all over the barangay for easy
reference and access. It must be noted, however, that the municipality has access to only one fire
truck and two rubber boats (which most of the participants have not even heard about).
Health and Sanitation
To address the community’s health concerns, several medical institutions as well as a few
lying-in clinics and hospitals are located within the vicinity and general area of the barangay.
However, some of them have yet to be operational. A barangay health center (BHC) is also in
place with at least one doctor and about three nurses present. Salaries for these barangay health
workers (BHW) are provided by the municipal government.
Despite these, certain issues have been voiced by the residents, some of them saying that
medical check-ups and vaccines for kids are free but medicines are either unavailable or have to
be paid for. A certain palakasan method has been observed in that some residents who are
connected or know someone from the BHC are able to avail of services and medicines, free of
charge. In some cases, availability of the BHW is also erratic, with some experiencing the
absence of BHWs to attend to them.
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Education
Educational institutions of various denominations and categories are also within the area
of Barangay San Jose. Public and private elementary and high schools as well as universities and
vocational institutions are listed below.
Public Elementary Schools in and near San Jose






Burgos Elementary School
Burgos Elementary School Unit I
Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Elementary School
Geronimo Elementary School
Manggahan Elementary School
San Jose Elementary School





San Rafael Elementary School
San Rafael Elementary School - Casili
San Rafael Elementary School - Catmon
San Rafael Elementary School - Inigan
Wawa Elementary School
Public High Schools in and near San Jose







Burgos National High School
Gen. Licerio Geronimo High School
Kasiglahan Village National High School
Macabud National High School
Macaingalan High School
Manggahan National High School
Mascap National High School – Purray
Annex
 Mascap National High School
 Montalban Heights National High
School
 San Isidro National High School
 San Jose National High School*
 Southville 8B National High School
 Southville 8C National High School
 Tagumpay National High School
 Wawa National High School
Private Elementary Schools in San Jose









EBBC Christian Academy
Froebelian College of Science and Technology
Holy Family Montessori School of Rodriguez, Inc.
Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach Christian Academy
Little Guardian Learning Center
Lord Most High Christian School
Papaya Academy, Inc.
St. Therese Learning School of Rodriguez, Inc.
Three Kings Academy of Rodriguez, Inc.
Colleges and Universities in and near San Jose







Asian Institute of Computer Studies (AICS)
Froebellian College of Science and Technology
Gerald's School of Science and Technology
Roosevelt College Rodriguez
St. Joseph's College of Quezon City
Pamantasan ng Montalban
University of Rizal System (URS)
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Vocational
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Vocational courses can be availed for free with three courses offered at a quota of 50
students per course. Uniforms and student identification cards with a minimal charge shall be
shouldered by the student.
Public elementary and high school students only have to pay for their IDs while students
at some schools and universities pay about Php 5,000.00 for every semester. Because of the fees,
most get to finish high school but no longer continue to college. To assist those who do not
have the financial capacity to pay for tertiary education, the office of the governor offers the
Rizal College Scholarship Program which has awarded 126 scholarships in 2012.
However, most of the participants have complained that schools still require donations
for items such as electric fans and charge students who use computers to do their schoolwork.
Furthermore, parents complain that there are no health facilities in most public schools and a
lack of educational facilities like computer laboratories and libraries. There is also a need to
improve and address the lack of infrastructures and facilities, such as dilapidated roofing and
unsafe roads, in the schools that make it more difficult for children to attend. Participants have
emphasized that, in addition to these, schools should also offer proper values formation which
include teaching children about vices and other life morals.
Common Areas
Communal recreation and gathering areas are available for use for barangay community
members. Among the facilities available are a basketball court, a municipal gymnasium, a
barangay hall as well as places of worship for various faiths including Catholic, Iglesia ni Cristo,
Muslim, Christian, Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist and Mormon. The San Jose Market and
Robinson’s Supermarket are also within the area for residents to buy daily supplies for food and
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 21
other household items. In the event of evacuation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, the municipal gymnasium and San Jose Elementary School are open to the barangay as
evacuation centers.
People
Population
The total barangay population according to the figures provided by the National
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) as of 2010 is at 108,586 and as of 2013, it has increased to
about 200,000 according to the estimate of SPI and some residents. Of the population, about
77,000 are registered voters, accounting to roughly 39% of the current year’s figures. Thirty
percent of the population is comprised of children and there are more men than women in the
community in general.
There are about 1,100 households in the barangay, broken down into different areas,
with about 90% living in the Libis and Sabah areas, the rest coming from the Sabah-Muslim
compound. The average household comprises of five (5) members, with children averaging at
about three (3) per household.
Majority of the community members practice the Catholic faith, with Iglesia ni Cristo
coming in as a significant second. Other denominations include Muslims, Christian, Protestant,
Seventh Day Adventist and Mormons.
Dialects spoken vary with Tagalog as the main dialect used in communication, Visayan
and dialects from Maguindanao province are also spoken by some residents who originally hail
from those areas.
Social Issues
22 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
As with most communities, social issues, predominantly those found in depressed areas,
are also common in Barangay San Jose. Among those mentioned by residents are
occurrences/cases of:
 Early pregnancies with an estimated 10 pregnancies a year in Libis
 Gambling among the youth and adults usually through card games and jueteng respectively
 Drug use among the youth using substances such as rugby and sealants
 A significant number of single moms and/or female breadwinners which presents a higher
vulnerability and exposure in terms of safety in the face of disasters.
Livelihood
A main point of concern for the economic aspect of a community and their resilience in
coping with disasters are their ways of life and sources of income. In Barangay San Jose, the
main source of income for households lies in the informal sector (itinerant vendors, informal
service workers/providers) as well as in the formal sector (factory workers, service providers in
food outlets, etc.). The male members of the household, particularly the fathers, are mostly still
the breadwinners. In some cases, women may accept odd jobs, such as doing the laundry, for
extra income.
Many rely on subsistence farming, cultivating vegetables such as eggplant, kamoteng
kahoy and kangkong. Subsistence fishing, perhaps because of their proximity to the water, is also
frequently seen. Commonly caught are ayungin, tilapia, dalag, hito and shrimp. Other informal
businesses such as food vending, trash collecting, sourcing and selling recyclables and scrap
materials are also engaged in by the residents. Microenterprises such as sundry stores, eateries,
bakeries and junk shops can also be found within the barangay. These microenterprise businesses
account for about 10% of the population, with the owners commonly Muslims—a tendency
often attributed to their culture and inclination to trade. These small businesses earn a meager
profit with an average Php 300.00 per day, which is not quite enough to sustain a family of five,
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 23
but majority of the participants have expressed the desire to own businesses, if only the
government would assist them with capital.
Those who work in the formal sector engage in labor intensive jobs such as construction
workers and drivers. There are a handful of professionals and employees while the rest are
classified as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), often working abroad as domestic helpers.
Income Levels
 Region IVA – CALABARZON Average Annual Family Income (2009)
Php 158,000.00
 Region IVA – CALABARZON Average Annual Family Expenditure (2009)
Php 135,000.00
 Minimum Wage
-- For private workers and employees and retail/services employing not more than ten
employees: Php225.00
-- For general non-agriculture: Php322.50
Sources: (National Statistical Coordination Board, 2009) (National Wages and Productivity
Commission, 2012)
Health
Nutrition Status
FGD and interview participants did not observe malnutrition among the other residents.
For optimum nutrition, the food guidelines of the World Health Organization suggest
consuming a variety of food with amounts depending on an individual’s weight and height
(WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, 1998). However, in urban areas such as Barangay
San Jose, access to natural resources are often limited and, consequently, result in the
consumption of less nutritious food that is more convenient to prepare. This is further
24 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
encouraged by the proliferation of sari-sari stores that sell processed food and ready-to-drink
beverages and of food carts that sell deep fried and oily fare.
Mortality Rate and Common Causes of Death
Community members interviewed were uncertain of the average number of deaths per
year but a resident has attested that there are years that bring no deaths, although this
information could be unreliable. Community leaders, however, acknowledge that the most
common health concern is related to heart disease, confirmed by the 2012 annual municipal data
which listed 244 individuals who died of heart ailments. Other top causes of death are
pneumonia and cancer, which killed 134 and 102 individuals respectively (Berkman International,
Inc., 2013). With the 2010 barangay population of 108,586, these figures represent less than one
percent.
Common Diseases and Recurrence
For the month of September, at least three dengue cases have been recorded in the
barangay and is reported to be the monthly average, with no more than 100 cases of dengue
recorded last year (2012). In contrast to dengue which appears to be relatively infrequent,
residents have noted that their children seem to be highly susceptible to cough, colds and fever
and attribute these illnesses to poor waste management, aggravated by the presence of small
piggeries and a large junk shop in the community (Frias, Barangay San Jose Socio-Economic
Profile, 2010).
The table below (Figure 2) further details the common health concerns as reported by
the Municipal Health Office:
Figure 2. Common Health Concerns in Barangay San Jose
CASES
Count
3.Pulmonary Tuberculosis
937
1. Animal Bite Cases
1498
4. Dengue
445
2. AURI
1164
5. Asthma
384
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 25
6. Acute Rhinitis
343
9. Body Injuries
179
7. AGE
219
10. Pharyngitis
129
8. Essential Hypertension
205
11. Contact Dermatitis
77
Source: (Berkman International, Inc., 2013)
Health Programs
Barangay data shows that medical and dental missions are one of the activities of the
Committee on Health Services and Nutrition, providing free circumcision, pap smear and other
health services to the community (Frias, Barangay San Jose Socio-Economic Profile, 2010).
However, residents have observed that medical missions commonly occur during election season,
such as those that served around 200 people before and after this year’s national elections.
Community leaders also cited that regular feeding programs were funded by NGOs and not by
the LGU.
Alternative Health/Medical Practices
The traditional Filipino healing methods of tawas and hilot are still used in the community
possibly because of its accessibility and affordability. The municipal government recognizes the
need to regulate these methods, thus training hilot practitioners who report to the BHC (Berkman
International, Inc., 2013).
Sanitation Practices
Sanitation issues in the barangay arise from the density of residences and infrastructures
as well as the inaccessibility of proper waste disposal services to the community. In this case, the
more the community was isolated from these services, the greater was the tendency for them to
dispose wastes either through burning or directly to their immediate surroundings such as in idle
land, streams or the Marikina River.
26 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
Although policies such as the Ecological and Solid Waste Act (RA 9003) exist and, as the
Barangay Captain claims, people who throw trash in streams or rivers are investigated and
penalized, the capability to support and enforce such policies remains an obvious challenge.
FGD participants related that the frequency of garbage collection went down from once a week
to once every two to three weeks, leading to waste accumulation and rotting, while collection
becomes noticeably more frequent in December as garbage collectors pass around envelopes and
ask for Christmas donations.
Furthermore, sewage systems are not properly in place as canals lead from one home to
another, ultimately draining into the Marikina River. Municipal information acknowledges that
the town neither has a communal nor a centralized system to handle liquid waste. While there are
some households capable of installing sanitary toilets equipped with septic tanks, a significant
number cannot afford such systems especially in areas with informal settlers (Berkman
International, Inc., 2013).
Protective Services
The Philippine National Police station is located in the barangay hall and barangay tanods
are available to ensure the security of the barangay. Despite the presence of protective forces in
Barangay San Jose, residents complain of rampant stealing and drug use/pushing typically among
the youth who are also commonly part of street gangs that cause much of the trouble in the
community.
In 2011, Department of the Interior and Local Government rankings of the municipal
government show greater emphasis and support for housing and basic utilities, while peace,
security and disaster management ranked third among the four graded components (Berkman
International, Inc., 2013).
Sports and Recreation
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 27
The barangay is known as a “resort barangay,” housing nine resorts with swimming pool
facilities as of 2006. Each barangay has its own basketball court while a gymnasium is available to
the Municipality of Rodriguez. Communities put together annual tournaments for basketball,
volleyball and chess, for which prizes are solicited by the tournament committee. The LGU is
said to allot Php 800,000.00 for the local barangay fiesta held every May.
Environment
The barangay is divided by the Marikina River, born from the waters of the Sierra Madre
Mountain Range. Barangay San Jose was formerly an agricultural area but, now that it is densely
covered by roads and structures, whatever patches of idle land in and around the community are
no longer used for farming on a substantial scale. Private companies that quarry soil and rock,
however, are present in the area.
Common Disasters Experienced
Before the community was ravaged by Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, flooding was an
infrequent occurrence in Barangay San Jose. After 2009, floods became an annual event at two to
three times a year. Notable were Tropical Storms Falcon and Pedring and the southwest
monsoons of 2012 and 2013 that flooded the community, leading to mass evacuation efforts.
Other Environmental Vulnerabilities
Other environmental vulnerabilities observed and confirmed by the community were the
erosion of the riverbank and the shallowing of the Marikina River, which is attributed to rock
crushing operations upstream that deposit sediments and wastewater into the river. Community
members believe the above to be some of the major causes of frequent and excessive flooding in
the area and recommend river dredging to help solve the barangay’s flooding problem.
28 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
The presented environmental concerns are further aggravated by soil excavations in the
barangay that is said to take ten to fifteen trucks daily to be sold as garden soil in other
municipalities such as Antipolo. Another cause for concern is the numerous resorts in the area
that extract groundwater in significant quantities, therefore competing with residential use.
Current Disaster Plans/ Preparedness
With the help of the Socio-Pastoral Institute, residents are now generally more
knowledgeable on disaster preparedness, which manifests in some of their initiatives like painting
water level gauges along river banks and concrete posts as well as having mutual markers in their
communities such as how the Sabah Muslim Compound evacuates once the water reaches the
foot of their mosque. In addition to municipal and national announcements, Barangay San Jose
is assisted by their leaders who take on a more proactive role in monitoring and, along with
resident volunteers, use megaphones and bullhorns to warn the community about such
impending disasters.
For when flooding occurs, a barangay leader has claimed that the
community is equipped with two rubber boats and one amphibian vehicle (although many have
expressed surprise at this fact because they had never seen these vehicles before). Some residents
avoid having to deal with such disasters at all and move out of their homes temporarily during
the rainy season and rent nearby apartments on higher ground for Php 2,000.00to 3,000.00.
Despite the massive destruction and losses brought by Ondoy, the municipal
government has not improved efforts towards disaster mitigation. The only equipment installed
in the area is a PAG-ASA early warning system but, aside from that, little development in flood
protection has been achieved with the local government maintaining a reactionary approach even
though, supposedly, “the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office coordinates
closely with the Office of Civil Defense, NDRRMC, PDRRMO and other national agencies such
as the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, 16th Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Red Cross” (Berkman International, Inc., 2013). In
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 29
the event of the total destruction of a resident’s home, a participant has shared that the local
government offers relocation to neighboring Barangay San Isidro.
Other noted initiatives of the local government are limited to the distribution of meager
relief packs (typically contains one kilo of rice, 2two to three packs of noodles and sardines for
every family) to its residents, a system plagues by palakasan or favouritism as those close to
officials get an uneven advantage to the goods. Residents have also shared that when it comes to
disaster support, the Red Cross, the Office of Muslim Affairs, DSWD and NGOs respond faster
than the local government.
A recent report by the national government stated that the World Bank has given $1.5
million for the flood risk assessment study of Metro Manila which, in turn, will become the
government’s roadmap until 2035. This proposed the construction of the Small Upper-Upper
Marikina Dam (Wawa Area) and of natural retarding basins, which will cover parts of the
Marikina River in Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal (Department of Public Works and
Highways, 2013) (The World Bank Group, 2011).
Other Issues, Concerns and Suggestions
As narrated in the previous sections of this chapter, Barangay San Jose seems to be
overwhelmed with concerns, one of which is the lack of updated information about the
community—a concern critical to informed decision and plan making by residents, officials and
even researchers who want to improve on current systems in the barangay. As of September
2013, the current administration was still in the process of making a barangay socio-economic
profile so the researchers had to, with much difficulty, obtain the profile made during the
previous term.
Among the many concerns and suggestions offered by the interviewed community
members, most urgent is their desire for their local government to improve on existing
infrastructure, especially those involving sewage, septage and potable water supply. The table
30 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
below (Figure 3) lists municipal projects and their respective budget allocations from the
Municipal Economic Development Fund-- 36.77% or approximately Php 6.5 million of which
went to environmental and sanitary services.
Figure 3. Accomplished Projects of Rodriguez, Rizal as of Fiscal Year 2011
NAME OF PROJECT
Amount
%
Share
P
I. Environmental & Sanitary Services
6,452,770.67
36.77
II. Economic Development
Agricultural Supplies
50,649.20
0.29
III. Infrastructure Development
1. Improvement of Hospitals / Health Centers 772,265.00
4.40
2. Improvement of drainage and laterals
1,642,091.05
9.36
3. Improvement of roads & bridges
5,149,042.65
29.34
4. Improvement – Electrification, Power &
Energy
1,261,596.65
7.19
5. Improvement of artesian well / water supply
system
59,040.00
0.34
6. Flood Control Projects
1,169,350.80
6.66
7. Improvement of other Public Infrastructure 359,197.50
2.05
8. Other Structure
256,124.00
1.46
9. Artesian wells, reservoirs, pumping stations
& conduits
376,003.15
2.14
TOTAL
P 17,548,130.67 100
Source: (Berkman International, Inc., 2013)
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 31
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
Analysis and Recommendations
There is generally a very high correlation between the chance of being negatively affected
by natural hazards and being poor. A lot of disaster relief and recovery assistance fail to take into
account the need to support livelihoods and other social and economic aspects in the community.
Capacities and vulnerabilities are usually regarded as two separate entities in that capacities are
regarded as dependent on groups or some form of social organization, while vulnerabilities are
socially determined by the characteristics of individuals or households. They also have an inverse
relationship such that when capacities are high, vulnerabilities remain low or are reduced.
Therefore, the key lies in increasing people’s capacities and enabling them to have a greater
chance to engage in disaster preparedness, prevention and recovery.
Employing a slightly modified CVA or a Capacities and Vulnerabilities Analysis as a tool
to look at vulnerabilities and capacities of the community members in certain aspects, we see:
Area
Health
Vulnerabilities
Capacities
 Community is exposed to unsafe and  Mobilization of barangay
improper solid waste management
health centers and workers
practices leading to health problems
to assist in training people
 General lack of proper sanitation
towards proper sanitation
practices
Education
 Schools are not fully equipped to
 Availability of scholarship
deal with disasters and integrity of
funds
some structures are questionable
 Construction materials for
 Lack of adequate skills and
school retrofitting are
educational background
available locally
 Problem in coping with school costs
Livelihood
 Insecure sources of livelihood
 Employable skills
 Inadequate economic fall-back
 Diversity of income earning
mechanisms
sources
 Presence of a cooperative
Infrastructure  Unstable living conditions and poor  Construction materials for
and Facilities
state of home construction
retrofitting are available
 Inconsistent and sometimes
locally
unreliable basic public services
 Presence of barangay health
centers and other health
institutions
 Availability of utility services
32 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
Social /
Community
Relations
 Divisions and neglect for some
members of the community
(particularly that of Sabah-Muslim
compound)
 Varying participation levels within
the community
 Poor governance and ineffective
implementation of disaster relief
programs
 Weak decision making structures
(some are left out)
for electricity and water
 Presence of people’s
organizations to represent
members of the community
 Awareness of issues
The barangay Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Framework seems to be designed to be
more reactive in approach rather than anticipatory or pro-active. DRM programs need to be
more efficiently designed, taking into consideration the issues and concerns of the community
pertaining to socio economic factors such as education, livelihood, health, sanitation and
environment. The DRM programs need to be able to anticipate and foresee possible risk
exposures for the community as opposed to merely responding to them.
Local governments seem to have very limited capacity in DRM. Capabilities mostly lie in
emergency response management and very little planning capacity. Disaster risk concerns need to
be adequate and integrated into local physical, social, and economic policies and plans. In
addition, there are concerns that crop up in terms of implementing emergency response and
relief distribution. Poor governance is an issue and the needs a more systematic and methodical
approach, with the appropriate checks and balances.
Furthermore, DRM programs appear to be tainted with political vested interests of
individuals in power or positions of authority. Opportunistic and, often times, shady activities
take place and politicians deliberately seek favor through the enforcement or the nonenforcement of certain rules and regulations which, in turn, thwarts the supposedly positive
effects of DRM programs.
Disasters have severe impacts to livelihood and poverty. The most exposed and
vulnerable are the poor as they live in substandard housing often situated in precarious locations
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 33
such as flood plains and river banks with no access to secure land ownership and therefore less
incentive to invest in disaster risk reduction measures. In addition, they have little to no means of
earning income, which leads them to exploit and disregard their environment, exposing them
and their community further to increased risk and vulnerability.
Most of the post-disaster funds and activities are geared towards rebuilding physical
infrastructure, consequently putting concerns related to the social sector on the wayside.
Problems and issues on health and education are ignored. Social protection programs which
enable residents to cope with disasters and its effects should be put in place, addressing, in
particular, the needs of the highly vulnerable (women, children and the elderly).
Further, disasters seriously impact the education of children by making it more difficult
for affected families to meet the cost of school fees, or have to compulsively keep children at
home to do domestic and livelihood work to supplement household earnings or to take the place
of adults who have had to migrate to urban areas for better income. Children are driven into
labor and become vulnerable as they are forced to take on responsibilities that are not
appropriate for their ages.
Disasters also have immense degrading and long psychosocial impacts which are often
underestimated because they are less visible and obvious unlike physical impacts. The victims
undergo a violent and traumatic experience during disasters, challenging their conventional belief
and meaning of safety and security, losing with it their independence and self-worth that are
required for peaceful human living as socially cohesive communities.
Most governments tend to spend less on prevention and risk reduction and more on
post-disaster response and recovery primarily because investments in disaster risk reduction is a
long term investment and thus does not prove popular among policy makers in government and
public administration who tend to divert much needed funds to other sectors.
34 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
A case study in enhancing a city’s resilience towards ensuring a disaster-resistant
environment can be exemplified and followed as a best practice. Their conditions are quite
similar to our subject barangay. The journey they embarked on can be seen in the figure below.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 35
In line with this, some proposals which may be considered would be to:
 Ensure that relief and recovery is tied into the restoration and reinforcement of livelihoods.
Tapping into people’s organizations, partnering with the community to strengthen their
barangay cooperative group to enable it to provide stable post-disaster micro financing to
those who need to rebuild and reconstruct losses to their business as well as rebuild homes
and other lost or damaged properties.
 Livelihood diversification and more widespread access to microfinance and microcredit in
order to equip community members with a more robust coping mechanism in instances of
destruction brought about by disasters.
 A rigorous assessment of the safety of all schools and public health facilities and integrate
education programs and training on disaster risk reduction in schools and local communities
 Strong governance framework limiting political and security instability and mitigate negative
effects of abuse of authorities
 Risk sensitive school site planning, design and construction, reflecting local conditions’ needs.
Retrofitting of schools located in more disaster and hazard prone areas should be considered.
 Stricter enforcement and widespread awareness campaigns on solid waste management
36 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
 Enhanced and improved healthcare provisions for community members- ensuring availability
of medicines and trained professional health workers
 Skills training should be provided to capable members of the community to make them more
productive and able to respond to disasters
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 37
 Chapter 2 
GEOPHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Introduction
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAG-ASA) has cited that the Philippines is frequently subjected to various types of hazards
which have been increasing throughout the years. The country’s geographical location and
physical environment make it vulnerable to natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods,
extreme rainfall, thunderstorm, storm surges, strong winds and tornadoes, among others. Every
year, these hazards bring havoc to life and property, seriously disrupting the Philippines’
agriculture-based economy and endangering the lives of millions of Filipino families. To address
these issues, national and local entities have prepared and implemented contingency or disaster
risk reduction plans for mitigation. Disaster risk reduction plans are very important for the
community because these serve as their guide or basis if something happens. It must be noted,
though, that existing plans leave much to be desired.
Knowing now about the background and socio-economic profile of Barangay San Jose, a
spatio-temporal geographical assessment is the next step towards a comprehensive and effective
disaster risk management plan for the community. This geophysical assessment intends to assess
spatial and historical geophysical risks, identify major geophysical hazards, and examine the
exposure patterns of the community, which entail determining the factors that aggravate
geophysical hazards, assessing impacts the impacts of these hazards and characterizing
geophysical risk.
Significance of the Study
This Geophysical Assessment Plan is intended to be a reference or material that will aid
and encourage community awareness especially about the different types of geophysical hazards
or risks that they may face due to the extreme changes in weather conditions. As with this study,
38 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
this section aims to fill the gap in Barangay San Jose’s disaster risk preparedness, helping the
community become resilient, adaptive and empowered as they face these natural hazards. As
PAG-ASA has said, disasters cannot always be prevented, but its disastrous effects can certainly
be mitigated if appropriate measures are adopted.
Methodology
Community Mapping
According to Roaf (2005), community mapping enables communities to map details of
where they live and their surrounding infrastructures. Community mapping is a process carried
out by the community for the community, encouraging them to take action for themselves and
each other. It is a development tool that aims to tap into and expand the breadth of knowledge
and experience within communities to empower them and develop their capacity to deal with
and create solutions for a variety of issues and problems.
On September 7, 2013, the researchers conducted their participatory action research for
the community of Barangay San Jose. Participants were divided into three groups based on their
areas—Sitio Libis, Sitio Sabah and Sabah Muslim Compound. The groups were tasked to draw a
map of their community, labeling the changes in land use and land cover as well as marking
frequently flooded areas in preparation of the hazard map.
Transect Walk
A transect walk is a tool for describing and showing the location and distribution of
resources, features, landscape and main land uses along a given transect. It can be used in
identifying and explaining the cause and effect relationships among topography, soils, natural
vegetation, cultivation, and other production activities and human settlement patterns. It also
illustrates the present natural resources, land use, vegetation, changes in the physical features, and
mobility in urban communities.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 39
Data Gathering
For other pertinent information needed for the preparation of the hazard map, the
researchers also used primary and secondary data. Key informant interviews and focus group
discussions from Barangay San Jose residents were done to obtain first-hand information. The
collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistic using frequency and percentage. Other data
came from different sources such as the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) for
the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the Municipality of Rodriguez made by the Santa Maria
Planning and Research, Inc. Also, maps were gathered from various Philippines agencies such as
the Department of Science and Technology, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Lastly, Google Earth and
a Geographic Information System (GIS) software were used to obtain satellite maps of the
vicinity of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal.
40 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
GEOPHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Site Location and Physical Characteristics
Geographical Location
The Municipality of Rodriguez is located in the northernmost part of Rizal Province and
is situated at the periphery of Metro Manila with Quezon City and Caloocan City bounding it to
the west, the Province of Bulacan (particularly the municipalities of San Jose del Monte and
Polo) to the north, Quezon Province to the east, and the municipalities of San Mateo, Antipolo
and Tanay to the south.
Rodriguez (popularly known as Montalban) lies between 14° 41’ to 14° 54’ north and
longitudes 121° 07’ to 121° 22’ east. The distance of Rodriguez from the City Hall of Manila is
31 kilometers. It can be accessed via Aurora Boulevard – A. Bonifacio Avenue and J.P. Rizal (in
Marikina) – Gen. Luna (in San Mateo) national roads.
As for Barangay San Jose, it is bound on the north by Barangay Macabud, on the east by
Barangays Mascap and San Rafael, on the south by Barangay Burgos, and on the west by Quezon
City. Barangay San Jose lies between 14°44' 32" north and longitudes 121° 8' 0" east (Figure 1).
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 41
Figure 1. Site Location of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal
Source:
42 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
Land Area and Composition
In terms of land area, Barangay San Jose represents 2.88 percent or 1, 045.28 hectares
out of 36, 308 hectares of the Municipality of Rodriguez.
Table 1. Land Area of Rodriguez, by Barangay
BARANGAY
AREA (hectares)
Percentage Distribution
Balite
53.88
0.15%
Burgos
276.00
0.76%
Geronimo
36.75
0.10%
Macabud
1, 886.00
5.19%
Manggahan
117.44
0.32%
Mascap
7, 576.41
20.87%
Puray
15, 437.70
42.52%
Rosario
25.17
0.07%
San Isidro
3, 792.00
10.44%
San Jose
1, 045.28
2.88%
San Rafael
6, 061.45
16.69%
TOTAL
36, 308.07
100.00%
Source: 1:50, 000 MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAP OF MONTALBAN
CADASTRE (Cadastre 674)
Topography
Situated on the southern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, Barangay San Jose
is composed of low-lying level terrain to moderately sloping and rolling lands. These areas have
slopes ranging from 0-18 percent.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 43
Figure 2. Topography of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal
Source:
44 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
Figure 3. Elevation of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal
Source:
Soil
Based on the morphological approach in soil classification, the soils of Barangay San Jose
in Rodriguez, Rizal can be classified as Novaliches Clay. This soil series occurs in two phases in
Rodriguez, i.e., one with a slope range of 5 to 8 percent in Barangay San Jose and the other with
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 45
a slope range of 8 to 15 percent in Barangay Macabud. The former lies on undulating to rolling
slightly to moderately dissected tuffaceous plain while the latter is formed on undulating to
rolling low tuffaceous plateau. Both soil phases are slightly eroded and have a solum depth of 50
to 100 cm and a clay silt fraction of over 80 percent. This means that these are good soils for
agriculture with their sufficient depth and nutrient (organic and inorganic) content. They are
derived from volcanic tuff or adobe. In terms of landscape, they are found on residual/volcanic
foot slopes. The 5 to 8 percent phase of Novaliches clay makes up 6.97 percent of Rodriguez’
area while the 8 to 15 percent phase constitutes 2.69 percent.
Figure 4. Soil Map of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal
Source:
Natural Drainage
Owing to its predominantly rough topography, Barangay San Jose, as part of the
Municipality of Rodriguez, is drained by several major rivers which originate from the highlands
of the Sierra Madre. These natural drainage systems include the Maly River, Mangos River,
Montalban River, Puray River, Tanag River, and Wawa River. Practically all of these rivers
function as tributaries of a much larger river system, the Marikina River. Rising from the uplands
46 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
in the northeast, they flow through the landscape and meander their way towards the southwest
where they eventually meet and converge. Their combined discharge makes up the Marikina
River, the biggest in the entire province of Rizal. This river passes through the towns of
Rodriguez, San Mateo and Marikina southwards until it joins the Pasig River at Napindan. Both
rivers eventually drain out into Manila Bay.
It has been observed that during torrential rains, thunderstorms or typhoons, storm
waters from the tributaries converge quickly at the Montalban and Puray river junction or catch
basin and cause flooding in Barangays Rosario and San Jose. The main cause of this is rampant
denudation of the forests in the surrounding hills of the watershed area.
In the urban portion of Rodriguez, the existing drainage system of the underground
sewers is inadequate to accommodate the sudden surge of storm water as the system covers only
Barangays San Jose, Balite (Poblacion), San Rafael and Burgos. In addition, the unregulated flow
of rain water by a deforested watershed has also caused soil erosion in some portions of river
banks.
Figure 5. Marikina Watershed
Source:
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 47
Figure 6. Map showing the Marikina River and its tributaries
Source:
2.1 EROSION POTENTIAL
Erosion involves the dislodging, detachment, and removal of fragmented surface material by the
action of the wind and/or run-off water. Although occurring naturally at a slow pace, this
process is accelerated when man begins to disturb the landscape, especially when he removes the
protective vegetation cover and utilizes the land for various uses.
Various stages of erosion can be classified according to the extent of soil removal from the
surface in relation to slope and its present land use. The rate at which erosion takes place is a
function of slope, amount and intensity of rainfall, current land use and type of soil. Obviously,
steep slopes are more susceptible to erosion than gentle slopes. Heavy and frequent precipitation,
likewise intensifies erosion.
Overall there is no severe erosion recorded within the vicinity of Barangay San Jose. The alluvial
river valleys and lowlands experience mild erosion due to strong water current during flooding.
48 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
The occurrence of erosion can be seen in other areas of the municipality which is aggravated by
intensive and uncontrolled quarrying and land development especially for the establishment of
subdivisions.
Figure 7. Erosion Potential and Flood Map
Source:
2.2 LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE
Most of the lands in Barangay San Jose are classified as built-up because of the presence of
various residential, commercial, industrial and institutional units.
Based from the data gathered, there have been changes in the land use and land cover in
Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal from 1989 to 2009 (See Figures 7 and 8).
In Figures 7 and 8, it is very clear that the land use in Barangay San Jose has changed from Low
Density Residential to Medium Density Residential.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 49
Figure 8. Land Use and Land Cover Change of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal in the year 1972
Source:
Figure 9. Land Use and Land Cover Change of Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal in the year
2009
Source:
50 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
2.3 CLIMATE
As part of the Municipality of Rodriguez, Barangay San Jose experiences a tropical rainy climate
with hot summers. Based on a classification system published by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), its climate belongs to Type
I. This is characterized by two pronounced seasons which are dry from December to May, and
wet from June to November. Maximum precipitation extends from June to September.
2.3.1
Rainfall
The rainfall regime in the area is dominated by the monsoons which render a seasonal variation
in precipitation. It receives sufficiently abundant rainfall annually with total annual levels
amounting to 2, 406.2 millimeters. In addition, there are 151 rainy days on the average, which
means that more than 40 percent of the year it experiences rainfall.
However, there is a distinct though short dry season from December to April which receives less
than 60 mm of precipitation. This is compensated nonetheless by heavy rains in other months.
In fact, seasonally excessively moist and brief dry conditions are characteristic of the monsoon
circulation.
During the high-sun period, which is otherwise considered as the summer season, an enormous
amount of rain is released in association with the monsoon. The southwest monsoon is prevalent
in the area in this time of the year, bringing wet conditions to the affected areas. Looking at the
climograph and precipitation charts, it can clearly be seen that much of the rainfall is
concentrated during these months. The wettest months are from June to October which receives
more than 200 mm of rain. This rainy season often involves thunderstorms as the
aforementioned months experience more frequent occurrences of thunderstorm and lightning.
Besides the southwest Monsoon, the area is also affected by the Inter-tropical Convergence
Zone (ITCZ) which is also associated with rainy conditions. This further enhances the heavy
summer precipitation.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 51
The rest of the year, however, has minimal precipitation. This low-sun season is dominated by
the northeast monsoon which produces dry conditions. The rather short dry season is also due
to the ITCZ, which is not overhead in this period.
2.3.2
Temperature
Because of its latitudinal location, the sun is almost always directly overhead at noontime
throughout the year. The area consequently receives an enormous concentration of solar energy
which contributed to uniformly high temperatures year-round. As a result, it is consistently warm
with all months averaging above 20 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, there is minimal fluctuation in temperature in the various months. The annual
temperature range is below 5 degrees of centigrade. The average yearly temperature is also quite
high at 27.1 degrees Celsius.
Nonetheless, the hottest times occur before the summer solstice or prior to the onset of the
summer monsoon, particularly during the months of April and May. Obviously, the warmest
months are on the high-sun period when there is a high receipt of insolation (incoming solar
radiation). These months, generally from May to September, have high relative humidities
(moisture content of the atmosphere) because maximum evaporation is favoured by the
prevailing temperature conditions. Hence, there is an abundant moisture available for
precipitation, which also explains the wet conditions during this season.
During April and May, the temperature somewhat diminishes. This is because of the heavy cloud
cover associated with the wet southwest monsoon period which keeps away some insolation.
Hence, the resulting temperatures are slightly slower in summer than the immediately preceding
months. Nonetheless, these months are still relatively warm compared to the rest of the year.
From October to March, the area experiences cold atmospheric conditions. The average monthly
temperatures are below 27 degrees Celsius. This arises from the effect of the northeast monsoon
which brings in cold Siberian winds.
52 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
2.3.3
Prevailing Wind
The prevailing wind direction that occurs more frequently are the northeasterlies because of the
influence of the northeast monsoon. On the other hand, the winds are not quite strong. The
annual average wind speed is only 2 meters per second (or approximately 7.2 kph).
2.3.4
Tropical Cyclone
The typhoon season generally begins in June and ends in November, although it must be
understood that the rest of the year is likewise affected by tropical cyclones that pass over Rizal
Province. On the average, there are 22 to 26 typhoons that enter the Philippine area of
responsibility, which often affect the municipality particularly Barangay San Jose. Despite this
relatively high frequency, Barangay San Jose, together with the rest of the Municipality of
Rodriguez, is protected from the destructive effects of typhoons by the Sierra Madre mountains.
However, due to the extreme changes in the weather conditions brought about by global
warming, Barangay San Jose has been victimized by Super Typhoons Ondoy and Maring and
also Habagat which submerged majority of the areas in the vicinity. The places most affected by
flooding are the Sabah, Sub-urban and Libis which are near the river banks.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 53
Figure 10. Inundation Map of Rodriguez, Rizal
Source:
2.4 GEOLOGY
The oldest rock units found within the Municipality of Rodriguez belong to the Cretacious
Period of the Mesozoic Era (70-135 million years ago). These consist of the stratified rocks of
the Kinabuan Formation which are mostly volcanic basalt as well as the intrusive gabbro in the
northern portion of the town.
Next to them is the Angat Formation of the Early Miocene during the Cenozoic Era (20-25
million years ago). Mostly, of well-bedded to massive limestone, it is associated with thin
siliceous layers and limy sandstone partings. The lower clastic facies consist of thin strata of
calcareous shale, clayey sandstone, sandy limestone and conglomerate. This formation is
concentrated on the middle portion of the town and trending north-south.
Also of the Cenozoic Era but of the Middle Miocene Epoch is the Madlum Formation, which is
often found with the Angat Formation. Generally, it is subdivided into formations of an upper
member (Buenacop Limestone), middle member (Alagao Volcanics) and a lower clastic member.
54 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
The Buenacop is fairly fossiliferous, cream to buff, massive or obscurely bedded in the upper
layers while thin to medium bedded in the lower part. The Alagao consists of a consequence of
agglomerate, tuff, argillite, indurated greywacke, basalt and andesite flow; the lower clastic
member, however, is composed of a thick sequence of thin to thick-bedded calcareous sandstone
and silty shale with conglomerate at the base.
A more recent formation is that of the Guadalupe which dates back to the Pleistocene Epoch 0.5
to 3 million years ago. Within Rodriguez, the Guadalupe Formation overlies the Kinabuan
Formation and is mainly located north of the built-up area. It is composed of thick strata of
massive conglomerate, silty mudstone and tuffaceous sandstone. The youngest deposits,
however, are the Quaternary Alluvium which is composed mainly of detrital deposits, mostly silt,
sand and gravel. These are found along the alluvial basin of the Marikina River.
With respect to its geologic structure, Rodriguez is a folded region. The mountainous and rugged
areas are formed by great diastrophic processes which crumpled the earth’s crust. They actually
comprise a series of anticlines and synclines having north-south orientations.
A prominent geologic feature in the whole municipality is the Marikina Valley Fault System
(MVFS). It is mainly composed of two major northeast trending faults. The east Marikina Valley
Fault (EMVF) and the West Marikina Valley Fault (WMVF) traverse the Marikina Valley and the
adjoining municipalities of Rodriguez, San Mateo, Antipolo as well as some portions of eastern
Metro Manila.
Even though the existence of the MVFS has long been acknowledged, its activity has yet to be
fully evaluated. However, according to the Active Fault Mapping Group of the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology (PHIVOLCS), field evidence deduced from topographic map and aerial
photography interpretations showed previously unrecognized indications of recent activity.
Geologic and geomorphic features such as offset streams, ridges, alluvial fans, well-developed
scarps and other geomorphologically young fault-related features suggest a combination of rightlateral as well as vertical movement in the geologically recent past (which is some 10, 000 year.
R e s o u r c e E c o l o g i c a l A s s e s s m e n t | 55
2.5 URBAN AREA DESIGN
2.5.1
Storm Drainage and Facilities
Flooding of urban barangays such as Rosario and San Jose when storm waters converge at the
confluence of Montalban and Puray rivers due to the unabated deforestation of the Sierra Madre
foothills.
Barangay San Jose has also inadequate and clogged storm drainage systems.
2.5.2
Water Supply
The principal source of water in Barangay San Jose is groundwater. Lowland barangays are
currently under the service area of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Barangay San Jose has two deepwell stations.
The deepwell stations range in depth from 600 to 700 feet. Together they have an average
monthly production of 136, 873.42 cubic meters. The deepwell station in San Jose II has the
greatest monthly production, averaging at 45, 624.5 cubic meters. It is followed by the one in
Aranzazu with average volume of 37, 493.61 cubic meters monthly. The third biggest is the
Manggahan well with an average of 31, 826.82 cubic meters a month, comprising 23.25 percent
of total production. Another 23.57 comes from San Jose well which has a daily output of 21,
928.49 cubic meters. (Refer to Table 1.2).
Table 1.2 MWSS Deepwell Stations
Deepwell
Station
San Jose
San Jose II
Manggahan
Aranzazu
TOTAL
Source:
Monthly Average
WATER SENT
TO
DISTRIBUTION
(cu. m)
21, 928.49
45, 624.50
31, 826.82
37, 493.61
136, 873.42
Percentage
Share
16.02%
33.33%
23.25%
27.39%
100.00%
DAILY
WATER
OUTPUT
(mega
liters/day)
0.74
1.50
1.06
1.25
4.55
Percentage
Share
16.23%
32.98%
23.21%
27.48%
100%
56 | B a r a n g a y S a n J o s e , R o d r i g u e z
2.5.3
Bridges
There are six (6) bridges within Rodriguez. Each one is made of concrete. The largest bridge is
the E. Rodriguez in Barangay San Jose which is 120 meters long and 15 meters wide.
Constructed in 1977, it is made of concrete and has a loading capacity of 30 tons. The bridge is
old and weak, and need replacement.
2.5.4
Solid Waste Management
The majority of the households in the municipality use burning as their method of waste disposal.
The garbage collected in the municipality is dumped in a 300 square meter lot located inside
Barangay San Jose and later burned.
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Roaf, Virginia (2005). Community Mapping: A Tool for Community Organising.
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Russ, Thomas (2002). Site Planning and Design Handbook. USA: McGraw
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Telford, Willia Murray, et al. (1990). Applied Geophysics. Cambridge
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