History of Barangay San Jose West
Barangay San Jose West was created thru Municipal Council Resolution No. 18 s 1949 on March 30, 1949. It used to be part of Calambog, an old settlement whose name was said to be derived from the “mambog” trees that grow quickly in the area. At that time, Calambog has a peculiar settlement pattern: one which has its eastern, middle (where the barrio chapel was located) and western portion occupied.
Oral tradition says, Calambog was divided into two not really to facilitate the administrative function of the barangay considering the scattered settlement pattern but to facilitate the route of the annual “aurora” – a traditional penitential procession done for nine consecutive nights during summer to ask for divine intercession for rains to irrigate their farms. For that, the villagers decided that the proper boundary is the place where the barrio chapel is situated being the center of the scattered settlement. As to who gets what regarding the barrio chapel’s bell, “hamurawon” posts, the wooden altar and the image of their patron saint, the difficult question was settled through a lottery which gave San Jose East the “hamurawon” posts and the bell while San Jose West got the wooden altar and the image of San Jose – their patron saint.
In the 1960 census, San Jose West had 153 inhabitants which doubled in 1980 with 300 people. In the 2007 NSO census, the population of the barangay was 399 while in the 2009 CBMS Survey, the barangay posted 447 population.
Physical Characteristics
Barangay San Jose West is located in the western part of the municipality of Canaman and is about 6 kilometers from the poblacion. It has an aggregate area of 166.9709 has. or about 3.9% of the total land area of the municipality. It is made up of three puroks namely Zone 1, Zone 2 & Zone 3.
It is bounded on the north by barangay Liñaga with the Canaman river as the natural boundary, on the south by barangay Mangayawan, on the west by barangay Iquin and on the east by barangay San Jose East. The barangay’s terrain is generally flat with slope of 0-3%. As to the soil type, barangay San Jose West has Libmanan Clay and Canaman Clay. It is predominantly an agriculture area.
Educational, Health and Service Facilities
Public elementary education in the barangay is catered by the San Jose West Community School which offers combination classes up to Grade IV. Complete elementary education can be accessed in the neighboring barangays of Iquin, Mangayawan and San Jose East.
The nearest High School is located in Barangay Mangayawan, Canaman which is about 2.75 kms from the barangay. The nearest Tertiary Education facilities can be found in Naga City (about 8.5 kms. from the barangay). A Day Care Worker (funded by the barangay with municipal counterpart) undertakes day care services to the children aged 3-5 years old.
Health services in the barangay is undertaken by three Barangay Health Workers and supplemented by once a month visitation by the Municipal Midwife. The residents can also access the services of the Municipal Health Office located in the town proper situated 6 kms from the barangay.
Mode of Public Transportation
Before the advent of the farm-to-market roads, people of San Jose West depend on the Canaman River for their transportation. However, the new millennium paved the way for land transportation. About 5 public utility jeepneys ply the route of Naga – San Jose West costing P12.50 (one-way trip). A number of residents have their own motorcycles as an easy and relatively cheap means of transportation to and from the barangay.
Credit Institutions
The barangay is served by several credit institutions (private and government) including those offered by private individuals. TSPI and CARD Bank are the prominent private lending institutions in the barangay. The Municipal Government also offers micro-lending services to identified sectors, including the micro entrepreneurs and farmers. Private individuals (5-6 type) and compradors also offer credit services to individuals in the barangay.
Water & Electric Supply
In the past, drinking water is not a problem in the barangay. In the early 1900s people get their drinking water at the Canaman River. In the 1940s, water at the Canaman River is no longer fit for drinking hence the people resorted to open dug wells for their drinking water. Later on, in the 60’s, shallow wells and deep wells became their source of potable water. However, in the 80’s, water from the deep wells is no longer potable – either it’s murky or it’s salty or both. A notable number of efforts were made to look for potable water but all the efforts were all in vain. This forced the people to buy water from water vendors that ply the area. At present, the water trucks (lorries) delivers almost daily in the barangay, however, it can only reach the outer portion of the barangay since the bridge has to be widened and the road networks inside the barangay proper has to be widened. This situation adds cost to the water per container (16 liters per container). Nevertheless, it was informed that the said road network and bridge are expected to be improved by 2010.
It can be noted that up to this day, a good number of people in the barangay still bathe and wash their clothes at the Canaman River – they usually do it at the “pantalan” so that they do not have to carry the water needed for that activity to their houses.
As to electricity, all the three puroks of Barangay San Jose West has electrical facilities through CASURECO II. However, there are still several households (17 households) with no electrical connections mostly due to economic reasons.
Waste Management
The barangay has no Materials Recovery Facility and no established waste management system. Most of the residents dispose their wastes thru burning or in open pits. Some irresponsible residents throw their garbage in the river. It can be mentioned that the barangay is reached by some “Bote-Bakal-Plastic” buyers.
Peace and Order
The barangay is generally peaceful. Only minor incidents such as public disturbance usually caused by intoxicated residents were recorded in the barangay blotter. Peace and order in the barangay is handled by the 12 Barangay Tanods with regular detail duties and foot patrol every night.
Barangay Officials
Barangay San Jose West has the following Barangay Officials, to wit:
Punong Barangay: Ely C. Calingacion
Barangay Kagawads:
1. Lydia S. Salazar
2. Hilda L. Sto. Domingo
3. Lourdes B. Calingacion
4. Romeo E. Espera
5. Romeo E. Grutas, Jr.
6. Francisco M. Broqueza
7. Dionisio V. Abinal
8. Muriel L. Benedicto – SK Chairman
Barangay Secretary: Ruben L. Canuel
Barangay Treasurer: Roque M. Canuel