“Kaya ni Juan: Towards the Realization of the

Sustainable Development Goals”

BAHAY PULUNGAN:
A SUGGESTED SOLUTION TO THE
OBSERVED PROBLEM OF MISINFORMATION
IN REGARDS TO THE DISSEMINATION AND CENTRALIZATION OF
INFORMATION AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF SITIO MAKABUHAY

An Advocacy Project Paper submitted to the

Humanities and Social Sciences Unit
of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School – Vermosa Campus

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Research 4: Work Immersion

Proponents:
Dueñas, Maxine M.
Alforte, Sakura B.
Baloy, Liza V.
Min Ju Hyun
Olidan, Mikaela A.
Patigayon, Stephanie V.
(Group no. 2)

Ms. Alyssa Jade Saniel

Research 4 Teacher
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Abstract ………………………………………………………………… 1

II. Context ………………………………………………………………… 2

III. Project Justification ………………………………………………………………… 4

IV. Project Aims ………………………………………………………………… 6

V. Project Implementation

a. Target Group ………………………………………………………………… 8

b. Activities ………………………………………………………………… 8

c. Expense sheet ………………………………………………………………… 10

VI. Management and Personnel ………………………………………………………………… 11

VII. Monitoring and Evaluation ………………………………………………………………… 12

VIII. Project Conclusion ………………………………………………………………… 13

IX. References ………………………………………………………………… 14

X. Annexes ………………………………………………………………… 15

XI. About the Proponents ………………………………………………………………… 18

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HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

I. ABSTRACT

Bahay Pulungan is a project made by a group of researchers from the

Humanities and Social Sciences strand in De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. The
project aims to alleviate the recurring problem of misinformation in Sitio
Makabuhay, located in Barangay Poblacion, Southville 3, Muntinlupa city. The
objectives of the project are to induce awareness upon the residents regarding
the importance of receiving correct and true information, to provide them with an
improved centralized system for disseminating community-related information
such as water postings, and to establish a sustainable area within the vicinity
where the residents can view necessary announcements that concerns them. The
project that will be implemented consists of a Mini-Seminar and an Information
Drive, in which the total cost for the project is approximately Php 8,100.00.
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II. CONTEXT

Sitio Makabuhay is located in Barangay Poblacion, Southville 3, Muntinlupa city.

It is composed of 106 families and 539 individuals; through the study conducted
by the researchers, it was observed that they lack an effective centralization
system of disseminating information (such as barangay announcements,
municipal events and notices). Therefore making the community vulnerable to the
dangers and inconveniences of misinformation.
Based on the observation of the group, the community’s lack of monetary
resources is the reason why they are subjected to live in a rural-like area to be
specific, 1 on the side of the hill and on the hill itself. The distance between the
houses vary -- either their houses are beside one another or far from one another.
Another reason as to why some of the residents do not receive information is
because of the jobs they need to attend to every day. They are also not able to
fully utilize and get the benefits when the barangay announces and conducts a
certain activity for the residents, such as medical missions and outreaches. As they
were not aware or informed that the authorities will be conducting such projects
and activities. The lack of financial resources was also observed because they lack
basic necessities such as the proper road which limits them from creating
sustainable places that can update them regularly.
The barangay office is the main source for the dissemination of necessary
information in the Sitio Makabuhay. In one study of Chua and Labiste (2019), it was
mentioned that the Philippines uses this type of dissemination in the society such
as government announcements and daily issues. However, the barangay has not
taken the proper actions regarding the dissemination of necessary information
since they are unaware of the importance of having a well informed lifestyle. Upon
gathering data from the community, it was revealed that they have an
established official system. However, that system is not implemented properly. The
"officials of the day" are in charge of disseminating necessary announcements
that concern them to the residents. These “officers of the day” are the only people
they solely rely on regarding necessary announcements, other means of obtaining
information is limited or non-existent.
The system of how community-related information, such as water postings and
barangay announcements, disseminates within them is not properly implemented.
The 2 reason why the residents have different understanding of necessary
information such as water postings and barangay announcements. Through the
researcher’s interview, it was noted that their main mode of acquiring information
is through face to face interactions. Which is why, as the information spreads
through face to face communication, the information changes. According to
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Kalek’s experiment of the Telephone Game, "we should all consider is that the
more people added, or further the dark stories must spread, they will become
even more warped.” This is seen in the community because wrong information
such as gossip and fake news are added to the original information or
announcement. In this case, the occurrence of dissemination is seen, but there is
an absence of centralization. This would then lead to consequences that would
greatly impact them such as contributing to the spread of misinformation.
Especially now, in the current generation, misinformation spreads easily.
According to a study by Fernandez and Alani, it has become a part of one’s
traditional and digital media environment to have misinformation; which then
results for the residents to compromise their ability to form informed opinions and
news. Since information spreading in a communal environment can generate
misperceptions which affects the decision-making processes of various aspects
such as health, politics, finances, economy, and environment (Kumar and
Geethakumari). The misinformed individuals’ decision-making processes are
affected in ways that they may likewise make decisions that are not in their best
interests and can have serious consequences (Lewandowsky).
They need a sustainable system and area that can address their problem in the
centralization of information. A proposed solution by the researchers to this is an
information drive which is to provide them a formal space within the vicinity
wherein the residents may discuss issues, projects, local and events. This allows the
residents to be 3 able to set up a meeting and gather in one area along with
bulletin boards, so the residents will be able to go back and revisit other postings
that they may have missed, that will be placed in the central area of Sitio
Makabuhay.
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III. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION

From the gathered data, the observed problem in the information

dissemination within Sitio Makabuhay is that though they receive information and
have a proper system for dissemination, it is not properly implemented. As a result,
community-related information such as water postings is being spread mainly in a
manner of face to face interactions within the neighbors of the community. With
the lack of implementation of this type of dissemination and centralization, the
data the community receives is vulnerable to alteration and misinformation. One
of the needs that the group had observed is an effective centralization system of
disseminating community-related information necessary to the community such
as but not limited to barangay announcements. A study about the importance of
language, context, and communication as components of successful partnership
expressed that in order to avoid conflicts between themselves, they would have
to use the same ‘language’ and communicate with one another (Bracken, 2005).
To relate this with Sitio Makabuhay, since they live in one community, they are
bound to speak the same ‘language’. Due to the environment they are exposed
to and the distance of some houses, the verbal dissemination of community-
related information may not be suitable for the residents. The presence of the
Information Drive in one common area will be able to achieve centralization of
community-related information. The strategy the researchers have chosen to solve
the problem is to come up with such project and a mini-seminar for the
community. The Information Drive consists of a whiteboard accompanied with a
corkboard to be used for postings of announcements and meetings. The mini-
seminar will have two objectives; first is to educate them about the importance of
being properly informed with the happenings in their community and the second
is to give them a standardized schedule for the gathering and meetings. Through
this strategy, their needs can improve since all the residents will have the chance
to access the necessary announcements and ask questions if needed.
Basing from the responses, it was noticed that no further actions were made
to lessen the problem, thus we can consider that this problem had existed long
before. From the interview conducted, the group was able to assess that the
residents were aware of the problem itself, but they did not take action against
this phenomenon. Upon asking several officials and other respondents who are in
charge of disseminating community-related information, they mentioned that
their source of data mainly comes from the barangay itself. Although the scope
of the announcements given there is concerning the whole barangay, that is the
only place where they can get particular details about the community. The
residents also have mentioned that they had difficulties due to the problem since
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it affects their living. The lack of implementation of the system of centralizing

information and announcements in the community does have an impact on the
residents as they are more vulnerable to misinformation or receiving altered
information; which could lead to serious effects such as their decision-making
skills.
According to Lewandowsky, “If individuals are misinformed, they may likewise
make decisions for themselves and their families that are not in their best interest
and can have serious consequences” (107). Every resident of Sitio Makabuhay is
affected by the problem of the lack of centralized system for information. As the
problem that we are trying to deal with dwells in the aspects of their necessities, it
is very essential for everyone in Sitio Makabuhay.
To empower communities such as Sitio Makabuhay, the Sustainable
Development Goal of Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure will be applied.
According to the United Nations Development Programme this particular
Sustainable Development Goal elucidates on how technological process is also a
way to finding lasting solutions to economic and environmental challenges. A way
to empower the community is for them to have a systematic dissemination and
centralization of community-related information that the residents receive. If the
residents are thrown into a state of panic, they would not be able to make proper
decisions. Thus, causing more problems in the community rather than solving the
current problem at hand.
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IV. PROJECT AIMS

This section expounds on what the project seeks to achieve such as the project
goal, objectives, and the expected results that will be executed by February 2019.
It focuses on alleviating the observed problem regarding the centralization of the
disseminated necessary information which concerns Sitio Makabuhay.

a. PROJECT GOAL

Due to the environment of the community, the system of dissemination

lacks effectiveness causing several problems within the community such as
being uninformed about community events or receiving fake news. The
goal of the project is to have a proper system of disseminating in order to
achieve the centralization of information as well as lessening the cases of
misinformation. Through this project, the residents will be able to meet their
needs on receiving proper and accurate information.

b. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Three project objectives were made so that there can be a smoother flow
in achieving the goal of the project. The first objective is to raise awareness
on the importance of proper centralization and dissemination of
information. Upon conducting an interview in the community last July 2019,
the researchers found out that the majority of the residents are indifferent
about receiving information. Imbibing awareness to the resident's routine
would help them in making it a habit to constantly update themselves with
the announcements within the community. The second objective is to
reform the system of information so that they can establish a schedule
wherein it is beneficial to the whole community. The new schedule will be
flexible and be decided upon the availability of the majority of the residents
to foster direct involvement. Lastly is the implementation of the said system
to allow information to be centralized in a manner that the residents will not
be hindered by the problem of misinformation and being uninformed as
they currently are. Along with this is the installation of the Information Board
in the community. This is to ensure that the residents will have a specific
place where they can go back and check any other missed
announcements or necessary information about Sitio Makabuhay.
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c. PROJECT RESULTS

This project should be able to produce a bulletin board for necessary

postings, a system for propagation of information, and instill awareness of
having a proper centralized system for the dissemination of information
among the residents.
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V. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The project that the researchers will be implementing is an Information Drive and
a mini-seminar for the residents of the community. The former will be able to
provide residents with announcements or information about the community that
they may have missed while the latter for the residents of the community to raise
awareness about the importance of having a centralized system of disseminating
information; this will also provide the community with a new proper system that the
residents will be able to utilize as it will be more efficient to the people.

a. TARGET GROUP

The Information Drive is beneficial to the whole community of Sitio

Makabuhay. People of any age, may it be students, adults, elders, can visit
the Bulletin Board as this applies to all of them since the information that will
be posted on the board refers to them and their community. It will serve as
an access for them to the postings that contain the information that they
missed at their time of convenience.

b. ACTIVITY

The activity plan should include specific information and explanations of each
of the project activities. The duration of the project should be clearly stated,
with considerable details on the beginning and the end of the project. Include
information on activities such as recruiting, training, testing, and actual work
required. Summarize details in a Gantt chart:

ACTIVITY (PREPARATIONS) TIME AND DATE RESPONSIBILI

TY

Start End Notes

1. Research the possible November August Team

problems in the 2018 2019
community.

1.1.Conduct needs November July 2019 Team

assessment 2018
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1.2. Planning the possible October October Team

activities for fundraising 2019 2019

1.3. Preparing the November November SAO

needed documents for 2019 2019 Coordinator
the fundraising

2. Fundraising November March Team

2019 2020

2.1. Buying of needed February March Team

materials 2020 2020

ACTIVITY TIME AND DATE RESPONSIBILITY

(IMPLEMENTATION)

Start End Notes

1. Preparation for the December January Community

projects 2019 2020 Director

1.1. Final Checking of January February Team

projects 2020 2020

2. Visiting Sitio Makabuhay March 2020 March Team

2020

2.1. Mini Seminar with the March 12, March Team

residents 2020 12, 2020

2.2 Turnover of March 12, March Team

Information Drive 2020 12, 2020
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c. EXPENSE SHEET

Listed below are the materials needed for the project along with its
corresponding expenses.

Materials/Equipment Quantity Cost Funding Source

Microphone 1 - Borrowing from SAO

Camera 1 - Brought by Mikaela

Olidan

Whiteboard 1 PHP 640 Fundraising Activity

Corkboard 1 - Sponsored by
Sakura Alforte

Board Foundation 1 PHP 5000 Fundraising Activity

Whiteboard Marker 2 boxes PHP 100 Fundraising Activity

Pins 2 boxes PHP 60 Fundraising Activity

Whiteboard Eraser 5 pieces PHP 200 Fundraising Activity

TOTAL: PHP 6000

The microphone to be used during the mini-seminar will be borrowed from the
Social Action Office. One of the researchers will provide a camera for
documentation of the whole project during its implementation and turnover.
The main material of the project is the Information board that contains both
whiteboard and bulletin board, which amounts to PHP 5640 all in all. The other
expenses which includes the whiteboard markers, pins, whiteboard eraser
costs PHP 360. Materials from the Information Board itself were from the local
furniture and wood crafts shop in Cavite (wooden base), a materials
warehouse in Parañaque (whiteboard), and with a sponsor from a researcher
(corkboard). The rest of the complementary materials were purchased from a
local bookstore.
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VI. MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL

To work with utmost efficiency while creating a quality output, the table below
shows the point persons who have corresponding responsibilities to assure that the
project will fully take effect. The members will be assigned into different positions:
Community Director, Social Action Office Coordinator, Project Manager Head,
and Project Managers to divide the tasks. These people will be in charge of
overseeing each facet of the project to ensure its progress.

Oversees the entirety of

Community the project including
Maxine Dueñas
Director the planning and
fundraising activity

Social Action
Coordinated with the
Office Sakura Alforte
Social Action Office
Coordinator

Leads the
Project Manager
Stephanie Patigayon implementation of the
Head
project

Liza Baloy Oversees the project

ng implemented and
Project Manager Min Ju Hyun
executes the
Mikaela Olidan fundraising activity.
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VII. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

To ensure that the researchers are on track with their project and there is
progress with it, they listed down their project objectives and expected results.
They also indicated the method they used to monitor and evaluate the project
and when they conducted monitoring and evaluation activities to determine the
project’s progress and outcome. The researchers are the ones who carried out the
project evaluation.
On January 20, 2020, the fundraiser of the group was executed. Though the
initial execution was set to be December 2019, it was pushed back as the
signatures for the Fundraiser Approval Form were not complete as of the expected
date of execution. The fundraiser concluded last February 28, 2020. The fundraiser
was able to profit PHP 8,340, which surpasses the expected expense of the group
amounting at PHP 6000. From February 20 to February 28, 2020, the materials
needed for the implementation had been bought. The foundation for the
whiteboard & corkboard was crafted by a local furniture and wood crafts shop.
As for the rest of the materials, they were bought at a local bookstore.

The given table below are the assigned tasks to the group members:

Delegated Task Date Person-in-charge

Execution of Fundraiser January - February Overall Group

2020

Coordinating with crafts shop February 2020 Project Managers

Purchasing of other Materials February 2020 Project Managers

needed

Coordinating with Speaker January - February Community

2020 Director
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VIII. PROJECT CONCLUSION

Two years worth of research were dedicated towards the eventual turnover
of the capstone project to Sitio Makabuhay. It was in an effort to solve the problem
of misinformation in the community, as well as promoting proper centralization of
information. However, before we dwell on the capstone, what really started this
research for us was when we first visited Sitio Makabuhay and observed the
different problems they would encounter every day. One of the most prominent
problems we have observed during our visit was the community’s wide distance
from the barangay office, where they would get their news. With this, the
community members would often get news late and the news would contain false
information, because other than the distance, they also do not have a proper
system of disseminating information. Which is why our group created the
Information Board, wherein the community leaders could post community-related
announcements like water interruption there. Not only that but a mini-seminar was
supposed to be held before the turnover of the Information Board. Unfortunately,
we were not able to implement our turnover and mini-seminar. This is due to the
conflicting schedule of our potential speaker, we were unable to push through
with the talk itself and, as of March 14, 2020, the project implementation of the
researchers has been canceled seeing that the suspension of classes and Metro
Manila lockdown has been executed due to COVID-19. Although the physical
embodiment of the Information Drive, namely the whiteboard and corkboard,
dry-erase markers, whiteboard marker eraser, pins, and the stacks of paper will be
turned over through the school as per the group’s research adviser, Ms. Alyssa
Saniel.
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IX. REFERENCES

Bracken, S. J. (2007). The importance of language, context, and communication

as components of successful partnership. New Directions for Community
Colleges, 2007(139), 41-47.
Chua, Y. T., et al. (2018). Information Disorder in Asia and the Pacific: Overview of
Misinformation Ecosystem in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the
Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Carol and Jo,
Hailey and Lin, Lihyun and Le, Trieu Thanh and Kruger, Anne, Information
Disorder in Asia and the Pacific (October 10, 2018).
Fernandez, M., & Alani, H. (2018, April). Online misinformation: Challenges and
future directions. In Companion Proceedings of the The Web Conference
2018 (pp. 595-602). International World Wide Web Conferences Steering
Committee.
Kalek, A. S. (2017, December). The TELEPHONE Game Is Ripping the Fabric of our
Society Apart. A Medium Corporation.
Kumar, K. K., & Geethakumari, G. (2014). Detecting misinformation in online social
networks using cognitive psychology. Human-centric Computing and
Information Sciences, 4(1), 14.
Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K., Seifert, C. M., Schwarz, N., & Cook, J. (2012).
Misinformation and its correction: Continued influence and successful
debiasing. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(3), 106-131.
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X. ANNEXES

a. Fundraising Approval Form

b. Profit Log

DATE PROFIT REJECTED

January 20 PHP 210 Total PHP 42

January 21 PHP 505 Total PHP 71

January 22 PHP 780 Total PHP 25

January 23 PHP 700 Total PHP 10

January 24 & 25 PHP 860 Total PHP 10

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January 27 PHP 470 Total PHP 10

January 28 PHP 635 No Rejects for that day

January 29 PHP 650 No Rejects for that day

February 3 PHP 435 No Rejects for that day

February 4 PHP 575 No Rejects for that day a

February 5 PHP 710 Total PHP 5

February 6 PHP 540 No Rejects for that day

February 10 PHP 510 No Rejects for that day

February 11 PHP 305 No Rejects for that day

February 12 PHP 495 No Rejects for that day

February 13 PHP 440 No Rejects for that day

February 14 PHP 380 No Rejects for that day

February 17 PHP 240 No Rejects for that day

February 18 PHP 600 No Rejects for that day

February 19 PHP 510 No Rejects for that day

February 20 PHP 640 No Rejects for that day

February 24 PHP 460 No Rejects for that day

February 25 PHP 480 No Rejects for that day

February 26 PHP 580 No Rejects for that day

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February 27 PHP 80 No Rejects for that day

TOTAL: PHP 12,617

MINUS EXPENSES: PHP 8,340

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c. Formal Invite Letter to Speaker

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XI. ABOUT THE PROPONENTS

Bahay Pulungan is a project proposed and made by the second group led by
Maxine Dueñas. The group is composed of six well-driven individuals who aims to
execute the project in order to address the problem of misinformation within the
community of Sitio Makabuhay through the information drive. The proponents
have proven their resolution in helping the community by participating in the
activities set by the project for its accomplishment.

Maxine Dueñas as the leader of the group, is in charge of overseeing every facet
of the project to make sure that the project is moving forward. She is a
dependable leader that ensures the efficiency of the movements being done by
the members and as well as the productivity and feasibility of the project.

Sakura Alforte on the other hand assists and helps the leader in overseeing all the
objectives in the project. She would always manifest immediate response to every
problems that may arise concerning the project itself. She also provided help in
the maintenance of the fundraiser project.

Liza Baloy is in charge of the finance aspect of the project. She is accountable for
the earnings obtained in the fundraising project, Acuppa, to make sure that the
profit will be allocated accordingly. She is a reliable member who would always
look into the progress of the project and the maintenance of the fundraiser.

Min Ju Hyun is mainly in charge of the group’s external affairs. Anything that had
relation outside the campus was assigned to her. She was the group’s main
contact person with the school’s SAO in coordinating for the approval of the
groups’ fundraiser form. Her contribution in providing material resources greatly
helped the group.

Mikaela Olidan led most of the group’s media outputs. She had created,
designed, and edited all the posters and teaser videos, not just for the group, but
also for the class. She also helped in planning the information board’s design as
the main contact person for the board’s construction. She is a diligent member
who prioritizes the accomplishment of all necessary outputs of the project.

Stephanie Patigayon helped in all aspects of the group’s project, ranging from the
brainstorming, preparation, up until the paused implementation. Her suggestions
and opinions urged the initiation and the improvement of the board as she had
also provided aid in canvassing potential materials to be used for the project.