Research: Barangay Baesa, Quezon City

Figure 1: Barangay Baesa Location Map

Nearby cities: Antipolo City, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal, Norzagaray, Bulacan, Caloocan,
Valenzuela
Coordinates: 1440'14"N 1210'38"E

Baesa is a barangay located at the 6 th District of

Quezon City and is at the boundary between
Quezon City and Caloocan City. The barangay is
composed
facilities,

of

various

commercial

institutions,

industrial

establishments,

and

residential areas connected by Quirino Highway,

the main road which stretches from Balon-bato,
Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.
Founded in 1910, Baesa was once part of
Caloocan until the foundation of Quezon City,
which sliced the part of Caloocan where Baesa
was part of. It was later developed and was seen
as a potential business center. The farms that make the place was sooner developed into
subdivisions. As the time goes by, it gradually increases its population leading to the

Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 1 of 6

establishments of different industrial facilities that accommodates work of its citizens up until this
day.
Last Friday, November 20, 2015, Ive conducted a research together with my classmate, Jerald
Lincopines, at Barangay Baesa Figure 2: Barangay Baesa benchmark

in fulfillment of

our assignment in Research Methods for Architecture. This research includes observation,
identification of issues, and strategies and solutions for the physical problems of the said
barangay. The issues must be solved architecturally as per requirement.
Meeting with the Barangay Officials
The Baesa Barangay Hall can be found a few walks away
from the Quirino Highway at T.S. Cruz Subdivision. It is well
maintained and functions as home for barangay officials and
facility for different barangay activities.
The Barangay Captain of Barangay Baesa is Captain Ed
Juan, a structural engineer who sees the potential in
Barangay Baesa the most. We have scheduled an interview
with him and he doesnt disappoint us. He have shared every
problems of the barangay with us and discussed point by
point his strategies and his work in solving the issues around
Figure 3: Baesa Barangay Hall

his area of responsibility. As an engineer, he understood our

focus in physical problems and shared with us his knowledge about the issues, giving us clues
on how we can solve these.
Existing Problems: Infrastructure

Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 2 of 6

The first thing that have been tackled is about the issues
regarding infrastructure of the barangay. We talked about
horizontal infrastructure first. As plenty of the roads were
still owned privately, the barangay couldnt properly
develop the horizontal infrastructures that are needed to
be maintained. Unless the road is owned by the
government, private roads remains to be in a bad shape
and frequent flooding will always be an issue that needs
attention. For the Quirino Highway, some important things
remain

absent

such

as

street

lights,

sidewalks,

footbridges, gutters, and stops. These problems must be

focused

and

not

be

neglected.

Figure 4: Quirino Highway going to

As good as there are street lights on one side,

the other side of the road remains in darkness. It
is always important for streets and highways to
be brightly lit. It prevents potential accidents and
crimes to take place. Each side must be well lit
and the streetlights must be energy saving like

those that were built at Manila City.

Some sidewalks are in good shape while others
have debris of collapsed sidewalk railings
because of theft. Given that, at some parts of the
highway, sidewalks remained absent and it
doesnt promote a good walkable community. To
solve this, we must ensure that there is sidewalk
in all sides of the road and it must be well lit, environmental friendly, and a walkway that

promotes
Because

the

Figure 5: Quirino Highway going to

Novaliches

walkable community.
Quirino Highway is as deadly

as the other highways, the need for many footbridges rise and as far as I can remember,
there is no footbridges existing in this area. There is an attempt to build a foot bridge at
southern Baesa but was never finished. The reason is still unknown for me, but an
obvious fund related matter is what they will reason out for this. This project must not be
halted. It needs to be continued. There are a lot of road accidents happening at this area
Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 3 of 6

and a good footbridge will help eradicate the reasons for these accidents. Of course the
footbridges that must be built must also encourage people to walk in it, environmental
friendly, and safe. Im recommending 3 or more footbridges to be erected within the

barangay.
There is a serious problem of flooding especially at the intersection of Barangay
Sangandaan. Every heavy rain always resulted in flood that is inconvenient to
pedestrians. The reason for this are the clogged drainage ways. Transit mixers that
passes the area are one of the factors that causes this flood. Cements and aggregates
that they carry always overflow and ends up in the gutter. If it is garbage, it is easier to
be swept away but for cement to be clogging the gutter, which is a huge problem that not
only makes maintenance hard but also gives headache to people around the area.

As we walk from edge to edge of the barangay, we have only see two waiting sheds that
maybe considered good if only lightings were considered. Everyone hate to stay in a
waiting shed thats designed to shelter you only at daytime. Plus if the rain comes, Im
not pretty sure it can cover you a hundred percent. It is designed mainly for sun shading
purpose and it is not hard to see why. Im sure a proper waiting shed can be erected
even with a tight budget. Using the same materials as the existing, roofs must be
widened and maximized for the users. It doesnt have seats but that isnt a problem. A
proper lighting must be installed to give justice for the users at night. Also, it must be
safe, cozy, and user inviting for it to work properly.

Captain Ed Juan shared that he worked together with councilors for the case of the
populated and polluted creek. It is a good move as the creek can now maximize its full
potential in handling waste waters. Informal settlers living beside it only makes it hard for
each other by staying at the area.

Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 4 of 6

The captain also mentioned about

Transmission lines by the National
Power

Corporation

existing

at

important

the

(NAPOCOR)

barangay.

infrastructure,

it

As

an

has

to

perform well but some transmission

lines are not functioning at Baesa. The
NAPOCOR

shut

down

these

transmission lines because a number of

informal settlers have been occupying
the

base

of

the

tower.

Not

just

occupying but they made the tower part

of

their

homes

and

that

is

very

dangerous. So, the barangay made a

decision to move these informal settlers
from
once

dangers
the

because
tower

is

Figure 6: Transmission Line at Baesa

functional,

electricity up to a hundred thousand bolts will now travel at them. Though not all houses
will be eradicated, a radius of 20 meters from the tower will be the given setback for the
tower. Any homes within the 20m radius will be removed.
Furthermore, since the barangay is an industrial
zone, many vehicles travelling in this barangay are
heavy and thus, infrastructures must be properly
maintained and be taken care of.
Existing Problems: Lack of Facilities
When we say lack of facilities, the first reason that
comes to mind is about finance. But at Barangay
Baesa, that is not the case. There are a lot of
budget from the local government when it comes down to these facilities we are talking about.
The problem here is the location of these projects. The barangay has become crowded with
subdivisions, commercial facilities, and industrial facilities. But for important facilities for the
citizens, it hits the hardest. Say for example the out of school youth. Most of these kids have
been led astray and we need an institution for which they can change their course in life. As I
Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 5 of 6

have assessed by walking at the barangay, different acts of notoriety and crime have been
committed by these out of school youth. Different vandalisms on the walls, theft of steel rebars
and foundations for the road barriers, and even fights at night, these kids are restless. They are
Figure 7: Industrial Facilities at Baesa

one of the factors of infrastructure deformations. If

they are not attended properly, sooner or later they will be under the influence of different vices
and even drugs. To solve this, the city government formulated strategies for them. There are
projects for the out of school youth like the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and different
training and clinics. Training centers will be partners of TESDA and will offer various vocational
courses. By having a work to attend to, we can help them and their family for a better life. But
these projects are better fulfilled with a facility that is best to cater it. But for Baesa, it is a smack
at the moon for now. When the time comes and the opportunity for these facilities arrive, a
proper execution of the city government must be done.
Ive seen the efforts given by the barangay, but their actions are limited by their power. If the
citizens cooperate more and give better assistance to the
local government, we shouldnt have any of these
problems anymore. But as the way it is, we can only
improve ourselves if we have the initiative to do so.

Figure 8: Barangay sweepers at their

weekly Flag Raising Ceremony

Research: Barangay Baesa - Page 6 of 6