NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

MODULE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES

DRUG ADDICTION

CHAPTER 5

What is a Drug?
A drug is a chemical substance that brings about physical, emotional or behavioral change in a person
taking it.

When are Drugs Harmful?

Any drug may be harmful when taken excess. Some drugs can also be harmful if taken in dangerous
combinations or by hypersensitive (allergic) persons in ordinary or even small amounts.

Are Products Other than Drugs Ever Abused?

Yes, Substances like glue, paint thinners, gasoline and other volatile (breathable) solvents contain a
variety of dangerous chemicals. They should be sold and used with caution.

What is Drug Abused?

Drug abuse is the use of any chemical substance, licit or illicit, which results in an individual’s physical,
mental or social impairment.

It may refer to any of the following practices:

1. Using, without benefit or prescription, useful drugs which have the capacity to alter the mood or behavior.
2. Using drugs and substances for a purpose different from the one for which the drug has been prescribed.
3. Using drugs and substances having no legitimate medical application for purposes other that research.

Why do People Turn to Drugs?

There are reasons ranging from the following:
1.”Medicines” can solve problems
2. Widespread access to various drugs
3. “Peer Pressure”
4. The notion that drugs gives enjoyment to users and in the context that it is used as an alcohol substitute.
What Drugs are Commonly Used?
Drugs that are commonly abused depending on their pharmacological effects may be classified into:
1. Stimulants – drugs which may increase alertness and physical disposition.
Examples: Amphetamine, Cocaine, Caffeine, and Nicotine.
2. Hallucinogens (also called psychedelics) – Drugs which affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and
emotion. Changes in time and space perception, delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations may be mild or
overwhelming, depending on dose and quality of the drug.
Examples: LSD, Mescaline and Marijuana.
3. Sedatives – Drugs which may reduce anxiety and excitement.
Examples: Barbiturates, Non-barbiturates, Tranquilizers, and Alcohol.
4. Narcotics – Drugs that relieve pain and often induce sleep.
Examples: Opium and its derivatives such as morphine, Codeine, and Heroin

How can you Tell When One is Abusing Drugs?

A person who is abusing drugs has a lot of changes in behavior, appearance and mood. The changes
may be pleasant or unpleasant. Thus he is –
1. is irritable, discourteous, defiant and aggressive;
2. is untrustworthy and lacks self-confidence;
3. is unhealthy and uncovered with good grooming;
4. has love frustration tolerance;
5. lacks interest in his studies/work;
6. blames everybody for his problems; and
7. Prefers his “barkada” where he feels accepted.
What are the III- effects of Drug Abuse?
Drug abuse leads to medical and health problems. The physical complications dpend to an extent on
the specific drug, it source and the way it used. Among the physical and mental complications are:
1. Malnutrition. The lives of drug dependents revolve around drug abuse. They miss their regular meals
because they lose their appetite.
2. Panic Reaction. The loss thought processes can cause panic reactions or feelings of invulnerability. Both of
these states can lead to injury and death. The prolonged harmful reactions include anxiety and depressive
states, or beaks with reality, which may last from a few days to months.
3. Physical Damage. In addition to those diseases, which accompany the use of unsterile syringes and
contaminated drugs these may cause certain medical problems. Liver and kidney damage may result when
large quantities are taken. Many who abuse drugs also neglect personal hygiene, which can lead to multiple
health problems. Kidney failure, hepatitis, drastic weight loss, and vitamin deficiencies are some of the adverse
physical complications.
 The life of drug abusers is a dreadful one. To support the habit, they resort to committing
crimes like stealing, prostitution and gambling, wherein they hamper their emotional maturation.

What can a Person do to Prevent Drug Abuse?

1. Maintain good physical and mental health
2. Use drugs properly. Most drugs are beneficial when used under medical advice.
3. Understand your own self. Accept and respect yourself for what you are.
4. Develop your potentials. Engage in wholesome, productive and fulfilling activities.
5. Learn to relate effectively to whom you can communicate your problems freely.
6. Learn to cope with your problems and other stresses without the use of drugs.
7. Seek professional help if you cannot cope with your problems.
8. Develop strong moral and spiritual foundations.

What are the General Facts about Ecstasy (MMDA)?

Ecstasy is a synthetic amphetamine – related substance. It gained popularity as a recreational drug,
first in the United States and then later in Europe and now increasingly known in the other parts of the world. It
has the following street names: X, Rave, Love Drug, Flying Saucer, LBD “Libido”, Jagged Little Phill, Artist
Drug, Hug Drug, MDA, MDEA, XTC, E, Eckie, and Love Doves. Its scientific name is 3,4
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDA).
What are the Methods of Administration?
A user generally takes the drug through oral ingestion, but some resort to snorting for its faster effect,
but this is usually painful and irritating to the nostrils.
Its dosage varies, whole tablet – 1 “hit” lasts for about 3 to 5 hours. A typical dose is between 75 mg.
and 150. ; one half tablet – half a hit.
What are the Physiological Effects?
1. muscle tension
2. involuntary teeth clenching
3. nausea
4. appetite loss
5. blurred vision
6. rapid eye movement
7. hallucinations
8. irritability
9. faintness
10. chills
11. sweating
12. sleeping problems
13. increase in heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure
14. liver and heart damage and
15. brain hemorrhage
 MMDA is particularly dangerous when taken with alcohol, or by those suffering from heart ailments,
diabetes, asthma and psychosis.
Psychological Effects
The MMDA psychological effects are classified into two categories. The first of which are positive
psychological effects which include:
1. extreme mood lifts
2. increase in willingness to communicate
3. increase in energy (stimulation)
4. ego softening
5. feeling of comfort, belonging and closeness to others
6. feeling of love and empathy
7. forgiveness
8. increased awareness and appreciation of music
9. increased awareness of senses
10. profound life-changing spiritual experiences
11. neurotically based fear dissolution
12. experience bright and intense sensations and
13. urge to hug and kiss people

The second category has negative effects which include:

1. inappropriate and unintended emotional bonding
2. tendency to say things the user might feel uncomfortable about later,
3. depression and fatigue up to 7 days,
4. confusion,
5. drug craving, and
6. severe anxiety and paranoia.
What are the Long-Term Effects of MMDA?
1. Psychosis
2. Arrhythmia
3. Same effect as with amphetamines
4. Psychological dependence
5. Depression
What are the Short-Term Effects of MMDA?
1. Restlessness
2. Anxiety
3. Pronounced visual and auditory hallucination at larger doses
4. Increased blood pressure and heart rate which may lead to cardiac arrest
5. Nausea and
6. Vomiting
A user experiences grogginess, talkativeness, increased heart rate and palpitation, reverberating feeling,
glassy eyes, hypertension.
After-effect of Ecstasy leads to sudden drop of euphoria and depression.
After taking the drug, users usually indulge in sex (with single or multiple partners) and some resort to
mental intercourse (jamming) or sex talks.
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
1. Poor appetite
2. Disturbed sleeping pattern
3. Erratic behavior
4. Paranoia and
5. Suspicious of people

CHAPTER 6.

Health Education

Why do we have to study health?

The following are the reasons why we have to study health:
1. Medical health records show that current health practices are poor.
2. People’s attitudes toward health does not lead to hygienic living.
3. People’s lack basic information regarding health matters.
4. Habits affect health and the school can develop health habits.

Principles underlying health

1. Heredity, environment and mode of living determine one’s health.
2. The student’s health is a joint responsibility of the home, the school as well as the community.
3. Teaching health in the school is principally in the hands of the Health teacher.
4. Health education is included in the curriculum starting from kindergarten up to college.
5. The health specialist of the school should have a better understanding, sympathy, cooperation and support
in order to have an effective health education.
6. Better accomplishment of the medical and dental and nursing services of the school lies in the health
instruction and the development of health, attitude and habits.
7. The promotion of the teacher’s health is important to the health education program as well as to the quality
and cost of education.
8. What constitutes a valuable element in the health education of the student of the professional skill and
initiative of the teacher.
9. It is very successful to develop the health practices of the student starting from kindergarten until he
becomes old enough to understand the scientific reasons upon which practices rest.
The following terms have to be considered in the study of health:
Health Education. It is the sum total of the experiences which favorably influence habits, attitudes and
knowledge relating to the individual and community.
Hygiene. It is the science of promoting and prolonging health.
 Public Health. It is the science and art of preventing disease and promoting and prolonging life through
organized effort.
Sanitation. It refers to the establishment of the environmental conditions favorable to health.
School Health. It includes all the acts carried on in a school system in the interest of the student’s
health.
According to Fuentes (1999), women tend to love longer and are generally far healthier than men. Yet,
they visit the doctor twice as often. This is partly because even when they are in the best of health, their basic
biological functions – menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause frequently require medical
intervention.
Further, she said that there is an increasing and predominantly crisis in men’s health and well-being.
Due to lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally induced behavior patterns in their work and
personal lives, men’s health and well-being are deteriorating steadily.
In 1920’s, the life expectancy of male and females were roughly the same. Now, life expectancy among males
is over 10% lower of 7years shorter than that of women. The relative slack in men’s health is due to a number
of reasons. The primary reason is that men have been brought to up to think that it is unmanly to rat to pain in
their bodies. The consequence is that men are at greater risk for several of the top killers – heart disease,
cancer, suicide, accidents and violence.

Women depend on their gynecologist for female problems, and learn the benefits of early detection for
breast cancer through self-examination. Men, on the other hand, often ignore warning signs and symptoms
until the problem becomes serious. Furthermore, there isn’t a medical specialty to deal with the wide variety of
problems that a man faces.

Essential Facts Which Man Should Know (Fuentes, et.al 1999)

1. Heart Disease. One of the leading causes of death among men is heart disease. This disease is
brought back by lack of concern for diet as well as a stressful lifestyle.
2. Hospital. Men visits doctors when thy can no longer bear the pain. So, if their disease is already
severe, the tendency is to stay longer in the hospital.
3. Violence. Men’s tendency is to become more aggressive than women. This aggressiveness is
brought about by male hormone, testosterone. What happen is that they end up in jail or in a mental hospital.
4. Addiction. Men are prone to addiction. According to Fuentes, et. al (1999), it is estimated that over
two-thirds of alcoholics are men. The reason for this the “macho” image in which men are seldom share their
emotional disturbances with others. Because of these emotional outbursts, they tend to take drugs or alcohol.
5. Accidents. Men are exposed to hazardous jobs especially engineers, pilots, marines, fishermen, etc.
So, they are also prone to accidents.
6. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. STD is a disease among men if they do not practice safe sex, or
restrain from sexual activities with some low moral women, especially the prostitutes.
7. Suicide. More men to commit suicide than women. Because of the “macho” image, they always
keep their problems to themselves. So they are more likely to commit suicide, as they don’t have any outlet to
share their emotions.
8. Impotence. This is brought about by psychological aspects. Other contributors to impotence are:
smoking, alcohol, blood pressure medicines and diabetes.
 9. Cancer. According to Fuentes, et.al, (1999) men are twice as likely to die from cancer as women
are. The male specific cancers are: testicular, prostate, while the non-gender specific cancers are lung and
colon cancers.
10. Stress. Several factors can cause stress among men such as financial problems, poor health,
heavy workload, the death of a loved one, work environment and marriage strife.

Carriers of Contagious Disease

There are three agent carriers of disease germs according to Menez (1970) and these are:
1. Man. Man spreads a contagious disease directly or indirectly. He is a carrier even if he has not been
sick with the disease, but carries the germs with him.
How can man spread a contagious disease directly? It is through talking, sleeping or holding hands with
the stick person.
Man can spread a contagious disease indirectly through handling the things used or touched by an
infected person.
How can we prevent the spread of germs? It is necessary that persons who are sick should stay away
from others. Avoid touching the things that they have handled and immediately disinfect these through boiling,
drying, burning or the use of chemicals.
A person who has phlegm should not spit anywhere. He should only in spit cuspidors which should be
covered when not in use.

2. Water. Drinking water is another carrier of a disease. We also get the disease by using the glass and
utensils of a sick person.

3. Food. Food is also a carrier of disease, so let us avoid eating dirty food. Leftover food should always
be covered so that flies, rats and cockroaches will not step on them.
In order to avoid getting disease from infected food, you should not buy them from the outside vendors,
because you are not how they prepare, cook and serve the food.

Fitness and Healthy Living

Fitness relates to physical activity – perhaps a rigorous daily exercise regimen. Others may think of
fitness as being free from disease and other health problems. Yet the true definition of fitness is far broader
and more personal. It refers to your own optimal health and overall-well-being. Fitness is your good health.
Being fit relates to every aspect of your health – physical, emotional and mental. All three are
interconnected. And, nutrition and physical activity are fundamental to each one.
When you are fit, you have:
1. Stamina and are optimistic in dealing with everyday emotional-ups-and downs as well the different mental
challenges that are often encountered;
2. Reduced risk for many health problems, including serious diseases, e.g heart disease, cancer, diabetes;
3. An attitude of looking and feeling the best;
4. Physical strength and endurance to handle yourself in case of an emergency;
5. A better future to become an asset to your country; and a
6. Chance for a better quality of life, and ready to face challenges.

Nutrition
Nutrition is the science that studies nutrients determining what they are, in what quantities they are
found in different foods, how they are utilized by the body, and in what quantities they are needed by the body.
It is also defined by Fuentes, et.al (1999) as how the food nourishes your body. Being well nourished
depends on getting enough of the nutrients your body needs, but not too much of the nutrients and energy
your body needs.
Two classes of Nutrients
1. Macronutrients – these are nutrients which are relatively in large quantities and make up the bulk of all
diets (supply energy).
2. Micronutrients – these are nutrients which are needed in similar quantities which serves as calorie sources,
but play essential roles in the body chemistry.

The Common Deficiency Diseases

The common deficiency diseases among the children in the Philippines are brought by inadequate
nutrients in the body. As the children grow up, it has been noted that the quantity of balanced food they eat
goes down.
Hereunder are the common deficiency diseases:
1. Kwashiorkor – it is a global problem in malnutrition. It is brought by calorie deficiency. This is related to the
failure of breast feeding and is common among infants.
2. Vitamin A deficiency – One of the effects of this deficiency is night blindness. Another is teomalacia. A
person suffering from this deficiency has difficulty in climbing stairs and in walking. There is a pain rheumatic
type on bones and legs and the lower part of the back.
3. Vitamin B deficiency – If there is an inadequate intake of Vitamin B, a person will suffer from beriberi. This
is considered as severe deficiency.
Gastrointestinal disturbances resulting from impatient of the motor processes throughout the intestinal tract is
one of the symptoms. There is muscular weakness, paralysis of the lower limb caused by a multiple neurotic
condition may occur.
This can be treated and the patient will make the greatest improvement if there is more intake of B
complex rather than thiamine alone.
4. Vitamin C deficiency – If the tissue has been saturated with ascorbic acid, several months of dietary
deprivation may occur before symptoms of deficiency may be manifested. A person who suffers from this
deficiency has poor wound healing; irritability to infection is among the signs of deficiency.
A person who lacks vitamin C will suffer from scurvy. Pain and swelling of the thighs and legs are
present. The baby is pale and irritable, cried when handled. Loss of weight, fever, diarrhea and vomiting are
present. If the teeth are erupted, the gums are likely to be swollen.
 ECOLOGICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 7.

The Many Faces of Planet Earth

According to Toh Swee-Hin & Cawagas (1990), people all over the world are increasingly alarmed over
the rapid deterioration of our natural environment. Thus the continuing depletion of the ozone layer of the
planet earth as well as global warming through the “greenhouse effect” have been the subject of many
scientists urgently looking for solutions to save our planet from eventual destruction.
There is a prediction that there will be an increase in the incidence of skin cancer and other ailments
due to harmful solar radiation. The rising global temperature would cause the melting of glaciers and polar
caps, which will result in severe flooding in coastal cities and communities. The so-called “greenhouse effect”
is compounded as countries continue to burn fossil fuels like coals, oil, natural gas, and other petroleum by-
products, which, increase the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.
Further, Toh Swee-Hin & Cawagas say that the destruction of rainforests in all continents (Europe, the
Amazons, and Asia) adds to this “greenhouse effect” by disrupting the process that transforms carbon dioxide
to oxygen. At the same time, myriads of valuable plan and animal species are killed and suffer extinction.
Rainforests are essential in the functioning and maintenance of natural water systems. They hold rainwater
and gradually release the water into the ground, the rivers, and lakes. With the death of rainforests, streams
and rivers have gone dry while during the rainy season, massive soil erosion and floods occur, causing further
social and ecological damage (e.g. landslides, silting, loss of crops).
Even are marine resources are greatly affected by pollution which are brought by industrial wastes an
mine tailings that are dumped into our rivers, lakes and seas. The rich countries are also contributors to
ecological breakdowns in the Third World. Because of the lower pollution standards of our country, they take
an advantage by dumping toxic wastes into the air, land and water host nations.
In the urban areas, especially in Metro Manila, the air that we breathe is no longer safe. It poses danger
to our health. The unhealthy attitude of Filipinos throwing garbage into the rivers, lakes, seas can cause death,
because of the marine resources are being contaminated with the “red tide”, and other poisonous chemicals.
The “red tide” phenomenon is truly one message from nature to remind all of us the harsh reality that the
garbage we throw will go back to us in another form of trash.
The Filipino people living in the mountains do not stop from cutting trees, Philippine forests are not
being conserved, and so, as a result, there are often brownouts and power shortages which greatly affect our
economy and consequently the whole country.
With the increasing number of tragedies brought by our abusive acts against nature like flash floods in
Baguio, Nueva Vizcaya, Antipolo and San Mateo; volcanic eruptions in Bohol, Taal and Zambales in which the
latest is “Lahar”, many Filipinos suffer the consequences of our own abuses to mother nature.
This is the picture of our Planet Earth. As a Filipino citizen, how can we be the help of our Mother
Earth? What can we do in order to minimize, if not totally eradicate, abuses in our environment? Let us not
forget that everything that we see in this world is a gift from God, which we have to treasure. Let us love and
protect nature. Let us not lose hope for God is always with us. He has taught us and planted in our hearts the
good things that we have to do to protect our environment.
This environment crisis is an urgent issue to be resolved by each and every one of us. Let us join
hands in protecting nature. Act now!
Environmental Development
The prevalence of many of our current environmental changes – air and water pollution, global
warming, habitat fragmentation and conversion – is in part due to the way in which we have built our
neighborhoods, communities and metropolitan areas during the past half-century – dispersed, inaccessible and
automobile-oriented-in a word, sprawling.
The farther we have to travel between home and work, work and play, the more likely it is that we will
drive. Thus, it should not be surprising that as the distances between trip origins and destinations have
increased so has the amount of driving we have done. The end result of all the this driving is that the nation’s
air quality has suffered. Research has shown that in fact, pedestrian and transit-friendly communities have a
positive impact on air quality by improving travel alternatives.
As we build, we replace our natural landscape – forests, wetlands and grasslands with streets, parking
lots, rooftops and other impervious surfaces. The effect of this conversion is that storm water, runoff that prior
to development was filtered and captured by natural landscape, is trapped above impervious surfaces and
accumulates and runs off into the streams, lakes and estuaries, picking up pollutants along the way. Runoff
can be reduced through clustering of development, thereby leaving larger open spaces and buffers. Although
compact development generates higher runoff and pollutant loads within a development, total runoff and
pollutant loads are offset by reductions in surrounding undeveloped areas.
As development moves further and further to the metropolitan fringe, it competes with open space
habitat and prime farmland. Loss of open space impacts the environment in multiple ways. First, we lose many
of the natural landscape features we value- forests, wetlands, etc. second, we lose the functions that these
features provide-runoff control, wildlife migration, etc. And in the instance of farm loss, we hasten the use of
lesser quality soils for production; and increasing dependency on irrigations, fertilizers and chemicals. The
communities should pursue open space protection and development objectives through the clustering of
development activity away from sensitive natural areas.

What is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000?

Republic Act 9003 considers “waste as a resource that can be recovered,” emphasizing re-cycling, re-
use, and composting as methods to minimize and eventually manage the waste program.
This act aims for the reduction of solid waste through “source reduction and waste minimization
measures including composition, recycling, re-use, recover, green charcoal processes, and others before
collection, treatment, and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management and
facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles” (Sec. 2-C).
It also sets to “ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of
solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste
management excluding incineration” (Sec 2-D).
Further, this Act gives strong emphasis on the role of municipal and local government units (LGUs). It
empowers the LGUs to create solid waste management communities even in the barangay level. This requires
the participation of non-government offices, people’s organizations, church leaders, educators and other
business and community associations.
Types of wastes identified by RA 9003
1. Solid Wastes - these are all household, commercial wastes, nonhazardous institutional and industrial
wastes, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural wastes, and other nonhazardous/nontoxic solid
wastes.
2. Special Wastes - these wastes are household hazardous wastes as paints, thinners, household batteries,
lead-acid batteries, spray canisters, and the like. These include wastes from residential and commercial
sources that are composed of bulky wastes, consumer electronics, white goods, yard wastes that are collected
separately, oil and tires. These wastes are usually handled separately from other residential and commercial
wastes.
3. Hazardous Wastes - these are solid, liquid, contained gaseous or semisolid wastes that may cause or
contribute to the increase in mortality, or in serious or incapacitating reversible illness or acute/chronic effect on
the health of people and other organisms.
4. Infectious Wastes - these are most generated by hospitals’ wastes and mining activities, which
contaminate soil, and debris.
 Worksheet
Name Score
Class Code & Schedule Date Performed
Course/Year Instructor

Instructions:

1. As a student of CWTS, how can you be of help to your community in preserving nature? Give at least 5
ways.

2. What are the effects of environmental destruction on the lives of the Filipino people? Enumerate
atleast 5 effects.

3. What can be done to stop nationwide environmental deterioration in the following:

a. land
b. rivers
c. lakes
d. seas and
e. air
 CHAPTER 8
SOCIAL MOBILIZATION: AN APPROACH IN THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF CIVIC WELFARE TRAINING SERVICES

(Except from the paper presented by Dr. Florida C. Labugen, President, Association of Civic Welfare and
Training Services Implementers of the Philippines during the Seminar Workshop for Coordinators and Trainers
on the Implementation of CWTS Program in the National Region – Civic Welfare Training Service Conducted
at Conference Hall, IRTC Building, TUP, Manila on March 18 – 19, 2003).

The Concept of Social Mobilization

The concept of social mobilization emerged from the recognition that a genuine participatory approach
to development is essential for success and sustainability. Civil society participation in development effort is,
therefore, increasingly recognized by agencies and governments as essential for promoting good governance
– improving responsiveness of national policies and programmes to citizen’s needs and ensuring transparency
and accountability in policy-making and implementation processes of such programs like the Civic Welfare and
Training Services. Genuine participation of people involved and the citizen’s, however, is very necessary and
goes beyond dialogue with citizens (women and men, in their various capacities, socio-economic status,
affiliations and locations) beyond elections to active participation in making decisions that affect their lives.
Involving people requires efforts and mechanisms that can empower all but, most especially, the
disadvantaged members of society to participate effectively in development processes.
The social mobilization concept requires working hand-in-hand with individuals, organizations,
policymakers and communities to forge a collective identity to achieve common goals. It is through this process
that people at various levels of society engage in dialogue and negotiation wherein collective action emanates.
It is also an approach that involves planned actions and processes to reach, influence and involve all relevant
segments of society across all sectors from the national to community levels in order to effect positive behavior
and social change.
Social mobilization is also an approach and tool for the Civic Welfare and Training Group to adopt
whichever can help people to organize for collective action by pooling resources and building to solidarity
required to resolve common problems and work towards community advancement. It is a process that
empowers men and women to organize their own democratically self-governing groups or community
organizations which enable them to initiate and control their own personal and communal development. It is a
process of taking action to influence behavior to positively affect social change at all levels of society.
Effective social mobilization goes beyond community organizations, harnessing the potential efforts of
government, non-governmental sectors and citizens to work towards sustainable social, economic, and political
development. The benefits of social mobilization to community organizations and its impact locally and
nationally can be best sustained within an enabling political, policy and regulatory environment where
mechanisms for linking experiences and lessons at the community level to policy are developed.
Social mobilization, as defined by UNICEF, is a broad scale movement to engage people’s participation
in achieving a specific development goal through self-reliant efforts. It involves all relevant segments of society:
decision-and policy-makers, opinion leaders, bureaucrats and technocrats, professional groups, religious
associations, commerce and industry, communities and individuals. It is planned decentralized process that
seeks to facilitate change for development through a range of players engaged in interrelated and
complementary efforts. It takes into account the felt needs of the people, embraces the critical principle of
community involvements, and seeks to empower individuals and groups for action.
 Mobilizing the necessary resources, disseminating information tailored to targeted audiences,
generating intersectoral support and fostering cross professional alliances are also part of the process. While
the components of the process may be practiced everyday in many development programs, they tend to be
taken up in isolation of each other. Social mobilization as a whole aims to involve all people in the communities
and empower them to act at the grassroots level. The outcomes should be the people’s active involvement
ranging from identifying a need to implementation in achieving the development objective and evaluation effort.
The solidarity of the bureaucrats and technocrats and a broad alliance of partners among various non-
governmental groups are equally critical for the attainment of any change-oriented development goal. Simply
stated, social mobilization calls for a journey among partners and results in the successful transformation of
development foals into societal action.
The societal mobilization strategy calls for partnership with all stakeholders which are the following:
1. Political – policy makers
Advocacy in this group helps foster the commitment that will clear the way for action. The goal here is
to build consensus with sound data, to create a knowledgeable and supportive environment for decision-
making, including the allocation of adequate resources.
2. Bureaucratic/Technocratic – government workers and technical experts
Policy makers depend on the technocrats, bureaucrats, and service professionals to provide the
rationale for decisions as well as to plan and implement programs. This sector includes disparate groups, each
with its own agenda, conflicting interests and concerns. Harmonizing the disparate units in this sector is
probably one of the greatest challenges in development, because development specialists have hitherto failed
to recognize how difficult it is to foster unity among government units and technical groups.
3. Non-government sector
This covers a multitude of interests. Non-governmental organizations for special purposes, social
institutions and associations that represent organized support, religious groups with their ideological bends,
commerce and industry that operate on for-profit basis, and professional groups that exist to advance their
interests are here. Though difficult to mobilize, they do not hide their positions. If their stakes are given
recognition, they are important partners and allies to mobilize the civil society for various health objectives.
4. Community groups
Community leaders, schools, churches, mosques and grassroots groups are critical to get communities
involved. They help transform development goals into action. Unfortunately, they are often not given a voice in
identifying problems and designing solutions. Popular participation takes place here.
5. Households and individuals
Individual actions are ultimately pay-off of the health program. In the household, where such behavioral
actions take place, key individuals in traditional society often hold sway. There is a need for a deliberate action
to inform and educate individuals in the household, so that they can make informed choices.

Key Elements of Social Mobilization

From worldwide experience, there are four basic elements of social mobilization:
1. Organizational development – is a process in which community members, especially the poor, form
their own groups or organizations based on common development interests and needs that are best served in
organizing themselves as a group.
2. Capital formation for development through Community Savings – this enhances a community
organization’s power to realize its full potential. “Savings generated by individual members are assets of the
community organization and are the first step towards their self-reliance” (Pandey, 2002). Accumulated savings
can be used for internal credit with interest, to enable individual members to engage in income generation
activities while at the same time, accumulating the organization’s capital base. They can also be used for
enterprise development at the community level. Savings can serve as the basis for access to external services,
for example, micro-finance. They can also form the basis for the community organization’s contribution to local
development initiatives, which is essential in localities where government capacity to address all social needs
of a community are very limited.

3. Training for Human Resource Development – Community members can maximize their potential not only
by organizing themselves but also by upgrading their existing skills to better manage new inputs – business
and community initiatives – and establish effective links with local government and other actors. The Change
Agent (i.e., the organization or individuals facilitating the social mobilization process) can support direct
training, exchange visits and other capacity building activities based on needs identifies by the members of the
community organizations. These can cover organizational development, leadership, savings and credit
programs, agriculture, natural resource management, and other key areas. Local human resource
development can best be promoted when trained individuals take up the responsibility to train other community
members.
4. Socio-economic development – Socio-economic development initiatives are a great incentive for
community members to organize themselves. It is important, therefore, that an initiative which includes social
mobilization provide support in the form of matching grants or access to credit, marketing and other services
that will lead to tangible improvements in social economic conditions within the community. The process of
identifying community priorities, participatory planning, implementing and monitoring of community projects and
managing partnerships with local conditions but also to empower people and their organizations. If well
facilitated, this process can result in increased institutional capacity, enhanced social status and voice
(especially for disadvantaged people, including women, the poor and youth. These results in turn, to motivate
people to remain organized as they begin to enjoy the benefits of collective action and recognize its potential to
create or influence change in their communities.

The Benefits of Social Mobilization

For Poverty Alleviation – Social mobilization is an important tool in the poverty alleviation process, as
it enables communities and the poor to help themselves to engage actively in solving their problems and
effectively tackling poverty in its multi-dimensional form. The principles of social mobilization ensure equity,
hence issues of gender-based, racial-and ethnic-based discrimination are most likely addressed.
For promoting Democratic Governance- Experience shows that poverty and bad governance
mutually reinforce, as they foster exclusion of citizens from the decision-making processes, lack of access to
basic services, lack of opportunity, dependency, and limit availability of public goods. Social mobilization must
be institutionalized within government for it to be effective. This would encourage participation in decision-
making, building capacity for participatory planning, a build a common vision on development and ensure
transparency. Institutionalization of such efforts can only be effective if a decentralized system of governance,
including fiscal decentralization is in place and functional. Social mobilization can facilitate tripartite leadership
at the local level, making civil society more effective as a third and legitimate partner in development.
Creating demand for good governance through social mobilization must be completed with increased
capacity of the local government to manage and effectively respond to this demand and improve its
governance practices. Capacity-building efforts must thereof target civil society organizations (including CBOs,
elected representatives, etc.) and government.
 For environment – Social mobilization organizes people to better manage their natural resources and
fight against illegal practices of organizations that degrade the environment, through promoting appropriate
legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks and policy dialogue.
For Conflict Prevention – As people organize to address common problems, and to collectively
improve their socio economic conditions in an equitable, democratic and transparent manner, the possibility of
conflict can be significantly reduced:
Social mobilization is said to be best effective when it reveals that:
1. The organized people representing different ethnic group act as a vehicle to develop social harmony
and peace and increase the general capacity of the people for self-empowerment. Full participation at the
grass roots level is only possible if the rural people are organized.
2. A properly designed community mobilization process leads community members, both male and
female, to the emergence of self-governing institutions which acts as the sustainable organizations for co-
operation, peace and development, helping people to enhance their receiving and utilizing capacities and also
work together for household and community initiatives.
3. The result of the social mobilization process is that people get organized to work together if they live
in close proximity and share common interests for community development. The foremost requirement in this
process is that people organize themselves into a broad-based and multi-purpose and multi-ethnic Community
Organization (CO).
4. The CO is a mass coalition of all those residents of a village whose continuing economic and social
interests are best served organizing themselves as a group. Such an organization can be created around an
activity of importance to most of the villagers. Before one becomes a member of CO, the individual struggles
against a harsh environment. Once he/she is organized in a broad-based group, the individual has the
leverage with which to address and tackle problems, which he/she could not have done alone. The group can
function in various fields depending on the needs of the village or community.
5. Social mobilization is based on the active participation of all households without any discrimination.
This is necessary for the whole society to move together in consensus and to build community-level social
capital. For preventive development to be effective, mobilization should cover each member of the community,
irrespective of the ethnic group. Economic group or different settlements at the lower level. Social harmony will
be best achieved by forming social capital through multi-ethnic and multi-economic group community
organizations which will be engaged in multi-sectoral development for themselves and their villages.

Conclusion
Social Mobilization is an approach that empowers people to participate actively in developmental
processes – through their own local initiatives and through well-informed and constructive dialogue at the
policy level. It is an essential tool for mobilizing and engaging isolated, passive and poor members of society,
hence its popularity with poverty reduction and decentralized governance programs worldwide. Its
effectiveness depends to a large extent on the appropriateness of the approaches used within a given cultural,
socio-economic and political environment. On the whole, it is an effective tool for building a well-informed,
proactive and strong civil society, making it a valuable partner for government and the private sector in shaping
national development that is equitable and sustainable.
CHAPTER 9
DYNAMICS IN THE OCMMUNITY

INTRODUCTION
The school-community relations constitute a vital function area in the educational system. The school
administrators concern should not only be within the four corners of the school campus, but should extend to
the community. Close school-community relations must be established and maintained in order to make the
school more serviceable and responsive to the needs of the community and to draw the community to the
school. The school is the extension of the community and vice versa.

Dynamics in the community should be taken into consideration considering the fact that today’s society
is beset with so many problems. They may be spiritual, economic and political problems, all of which are but
symptoms of a much deeper problem – a problem anchored in the mind and in the hearts of the Filipino
people.
The community can achieve its goals if it could:
1. Develop the skills of the constituents;
2. Understand the rights and duties of a citizen in a democratic society, to be diligent and component in the
performance of their obligation as members of the community and citizens of the nation; and
3. Develop and maintain good health and physical fitness.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESMENT

A needs assessment is an inventory survey instrument that is developed to collect information, which
will identify the needs of a particular community. It serves as a means of establishing a baseline and does so
through a systematic data gathering process. Needs assessment must be developed, administered and
analyzed to establish a positive and supportive atmosphere among people. It can be employed to accomplish a
variety of purposes such as finding out the needs, wants, concerns or goals of the community.

How are we going to assess the country’s needs? The most important thing that we can is to find out
the most pressing problems that greatly affect the lives of the people.

With the political issues that our country is suffering nowadays, everybody can feel the dwindling
economy. The country’s economy greatly contributes to the poverty problem.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY

There ae some conditions that exist in the community which are threatening the lives of the people
such poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, prostitution, cybersex child abuse, street children, squatting,
pollution, etc.
POVERTY
There are many myths in stereotypes – and many theories exist about the poor and the causes of
poverty. It focuses on societal needs and social forces as explained by sociologists.
It is also defined as lack of sufficient wealth (usually understood as capital, money, material, material goods or
resources, especially natural resources) to live what is understood in society as a “normal life”. An example of
a normal life is when are capable of raising a healthy family, by providing all the basic needs, and especially
educating children and participating in a society.
Another definition of poverty starts that is an outcome of longstanding conflicts between haves and
have-nots. It has an effect of limiting opportunities and justifying social inequality. Thus, poverty is perpetuated
through class discrimination and unequal opportunities for upward mobility. Hence, it is often strongly
correlated with social problems such as crime, disease, squatting unemployment, homelessness, terrorism,
malnutrition, and illiteracy. As a result, many societies employ social workers from the department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission ( NAPC) to fight poverty by
variety of methods, which range from moral persuasion to financial subsidy to physical coercion.
The following are the social, scientific and cultural disciplines about poverty:
1. In economics – There are two kinds of poverty being considered: the relative and absolute.
 Absolute poverty is defined by Ronquillo, et.al (no date) in terms of cash income or expenditures in
food, clothing and shelter.
The following are the situations of a family under absolute poverty:

1. The family cannot afford to buy adequate and balanced diet food;
2. They cannot afford to buy at least 3 sets of clothing;
3. They cannot send their children even up to Grade VI;
4. They cannot attend to their medical needs, such as busying vitamins, medicine for their illness
5. They don’t pay attention to the situation of their families, home and surroundings and
6. They cannot pay their house rentals.
According to Ronquillo, et al (no date), Relative poverty is defined in terms of median family income.
According to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the median family income ranges by
increasing or decreasing order, then determined by arranging the different income ranges by increasing
or decreasing order, then determine the middle-income level. People earning lower than the median
family income are considered poor.
2. In politics – the fight against poverty is usually regarded as a social goal, and most governments
have done so, through active intervention in the form of housing plans, social pensions, special jobs
opportunities, or requirements.
3. In law – it is recognized as mitigating factor for the determination of punishment. Poverty is
considered as one of the causes of increased crime rates amongst the poor by increasing their stress.
4. In education – poverty affects the learning ability of the pupils to effectively profit from the conducive
learning environment. No matter how much the teacher motivates, if the children are hungry, no
learning will take place. Pupils coming from poor families, whose primary needs are not met as
described in Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs, the need for a stable home to live in, clothes to keep the
warm and protect them from the heat of the sun and regular meals, are hampered in their ability to
learn.
There is a term used in education circles which states that “the rich getting richer and the
poor getting poorer and this is called the Matthew Effect.
 Causes of Poverty
Poverty is a political issue. People with right- wing views often consider it as related to laziness
and population explosion.
Those who are leftists view poverty as related to social justice, lack of opportunity in
education, graft and corruption and unequal distribution of wealth.

Types of Causes of Poverty

A. Individual
Poverty is explained by individual circumstances and/or characteristics of poor people. Some
examples are:
 Status of education, skills, experience and intelligence;
 Health, handicap, and age;
 Work orientation, time horizon and culture of poverty;
 Discrimination, together with race and sex. Etc.
B. Aggregate
There are two types of the aggregate poverty theory and these are: case and generic.
1. Case – According to this theory, aggregate poverty is just the sum of individual poverty.
2. Generic – This is explained by general economy-wide problems, such as:

 Inadequate non-poverty employment opportunities;

 Inadequate overall demand (macro problems, macro policy)
 Low national income (Less Developed Country).

Eliminating Poverty
The following are the different measures that should be considered in addressing the underlying causes
of poverty:
1. Broaden access to education and technology among the marginalized groups, and
especially among girls and women.

If all the citizens are educated and have developed their inherent potentials or God-given
talent, especially the women who have strong bearing on the well-being of their families,
no one will be poor.

2. Share the benefits of economic growth through and emphasis on more widespread
employment.
The government policies should consider not only aggregate economic impact, but also
the equal distribution of employment. Socially responsive venture capital and micro
credit initiative can foster employment-generating business that complement the local
culture and environment
3. Rout out corruption, which harms society as a whole.
What places a heavy cost on society is the effect of graft and corruption, not only in the
government but in business as well.
4. Improve government capacity to provide universal access to essential goods and
services, including potable water, affordable food, primary health care, education,
housing and other social services.
Government should make a commitment to these social welfare programs. It is often politically
difficult to raise adequate resources through effective taxation and other mechanisms.

Non-government Organizations (NGOs) play also a vital role in the actual provision of services
by providing essential assistance and help articulate and help articulate a vision of a healthy
society.
 Worksheet No. 6

Name_____________________________________ Score___________
Class Code and Schedule_____________________ Date Performed__________
Course/Year__________________ Instructor_______________

Directions:
I. Enumeration:
Disciplines that studied about poverty
1.
2.
3.
4.
Different Measures to eliminate poverty

5.
6.
7.
8.
II. Discussion:
What do you think are the reasons why there are people suffering from poverty? Explain briefly
(42 points)