SHEENA REI D.

CUNTAPAY
BSBA 4 HRDM

INTRODUCTION

Why I chose Barangay Tortugas of Balanga City, Bataan?

I’m not really a resident of Brgy. Tortugas but when I found out that my late grate grandmother Alberta
Reyes grew up in Ibayong Munti now Tortugas Balanga City, Bataan I found an interest in learning about the place.

HISTORY OF TORTUGAS BALANGA CITY, BATAAN

Only a few probably knew how Tortugas, the easternmost barangay in the city of Balanga, got its name. Tortugas is
just a tiny dot of an island that it was called “Ibayong Munti” as a part of and compared to a much bigger
neighbouring barangay Puerto Rivas, as “Ibayong Malaki”.
Even as far back, when Abucay was still the only known town in Bataan, the then colonizing Spaniards named this
“Ibayong Munti” as Tortugas. It was because hundreds and hundreds of tortoise (pawikan) made this island their
nesting haven. Tortuga is the Spanish word for tortoise.
Maximino Delos Reyes from Puerto Rivas was the 6th governor of Bataan. It was through his great effort that
Tortugas was made into independent barangay-100 years later when Puerto Rivas was made one... New
communities were being established in a bid to increase funding from the national government. It was also during
his incumbency that a bridge made of wood was constructed to link Tortugas to Puerto Rivas.
It was when Governor Pedro R Dizon took office, another son of Puerto Rivas and the 23rd governor of Bataan, that
this wooden bridge was changed into a concrete one. It was called The Catalino Dizon Bridge.
Another icon born in Tortugas was Atty. Medina Lacson De Leon. She became the first congresswoman in the
Philippines. She was instrumental in building the roads in Tortugas and later, through the concerted efforts of all the
other subsequent governors and congressmen of Bataan that Tortugas remains a progressive barangay up to now.
Behind the great existence of Tortugas were its equally great leaders. They were then addressed as “Teniente Del
Barrio”, “Kapitan ng Barangay” today. They were: ...
1. Mariano Alonzo 8. Victor Y. Baluyot Sr.
2. Pedro Punzalan 9. Domingo Dizon Sr.
3. Nasario Diwa 10. Carlito Enriquez Sr.
4. Jose Yambao 11. Trufimo A. Beltran
5. Melchor Cruz 12. Ernesto B. Diwa
6. Vidal Dizon 13. Emmanuel A. Beltran
7. Benjamin Beltran 14. Cesar Salaveria
Today, the usual means of livelihood in Tortugas is fishing, fishpond management, and mass production of dry fish
(daing and tuyo), smoked fish (tinapa), and shrimp paste (bagoong alamang). Many of the residents are
public/private office employees. Some are working in the various branches of the government. While others opt to
work as OFWs or have migrated abroad/overseas, many who remained venture into business. With a population
comprising 605 families numbering 2,641, some 2,300 or more are enrolled voters. Its main dialect is Tagalog.
There’s this one unnoticeable area in Tortugas which was cleared of the thickened mangroves during the time of
Punong Barangay, Domingo Dizon Sr. This was reclaimed and was intended to be an extension of living areas for
its residents. P.B. Dizon requested the then Mayor Teddy Alonzo to allot parcels of land to residents who didn’t own
lots where they can build their homes. It was in the year 1986 that transfer certificate titles were distributed. This is
the Promised Land.
The Tortugas Elementary School is the sole public school in Tortugas. In February 22, 2001, Tortugas Learning
Center for Children was founded. This is being administered by the Tortugas United Methodist Church – now
known as Medina Lacson de Leon Memorial UMC.
Minuscule as it may be, Tortugas prides itself on how God-fearing its residents are. There are 4 places of worships
here. These are the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestant Church (Methodist), the church of Iglesya ng Dios kay
Kristo Hesus, and the AGAPE church. There is also the modern Health Center, the Day Care Center and the
Barangay Hall.
The father and son tandem, Congressman Enrique “Tet” Garcia and Mayor Albert “Abet” Garcia, apportioned a
budget of a couple of million pesos to reclaim another part of Tortugas water area made into a long stretch of
boulevard which is now called BAY PARK. This Bay Park is now being frequented by its residents and its
neighbouring barangay folks because of its fresh sea breeze, the beautiful sea shorelines. Who could resists having
their “pandesal” and “kape” to welcome the dawn-breakfast while welcoming the sunrise!
Mayor Joet Garcia and the local barangay officers are now looking for ways in their plan to make this Bay Park in
Tortugas as the center of local tourism and soon to be The Balanga City Wetland Park. Not to be missed is the park
as a bird sanctuary.

MISSION-VISION

VISION

To be one of the progressive barangays in the city of Balanga; to be the leading supplier of sea byproducts like dry
fish (daing, tuyo), smoke fish (tinapa), and shrimp paste (bagoong); for our resident men and women be active and
qualified source of manpower in the workforce; to be the center of tourism in the province of Bataan at large; and
recognize the presence of God through our faith.

MISSION

As a community, we are committed to preserve and nurture our leading source of income; to provide livelihood
projects and training programs that would help pave the road to a progressive and productive barangay.

Barangay Profile
 Barangay Tortugas
Population, Purok
Total households, members, males and females

Purok Purok Purok Total Purok Total

Purok
Barangay Total Total Members Members
Name
Households Members Male Female

Tortugas No Purok 603 2641 1270 1371

Table 1. malnourished children by sex, by purok

malnourished children 0-5 years old*

Magnitude Proportion**

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

Tortugas 261 119 142 1 0 1 0.38 0.00 0.70

No Purok 261 119 142 1 0 1 0.38 0.00 0.70

*Malnourished children 0-5 years old or children who are moderately or severely underweight
**Number of malnourished children 0-5 years old over number of children 0-5 years old
Source: CBMS Survey 2009

Table 2. child deaths by sex, by purok

children 0-5 years old who died*

Magnitude Proportion**

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

MAJOR PROBLEM OF THE BRGY.

Growth of Unemployed Residence

Members with no job by sex, by Barangay

Members with no job*

number of Total members
Barangay Magnitude Proportion**

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

CITY OF
2641 1270 1371 1775 687 1088 67.21 54.09 79.36
BALANGA

Tortugas 2641 1270 1371 1775 687 1088 67.21 54.09 79.36

*Members with no economic activity during the last three months

**Number of members with no job over total number of members
Source: CBMS Survey 2009

CONCLUSION

In the chart above there is 67.21% in the population of the residence of the Brgy. Tortugas Balanga City, Bataan
which is not good for our economy cause it will result to:

>increased poverty because they have no income

>increased crime rate because many resort to even more illegal ways to profit, doing drugs, stealing,
cheating, etc.
>greater discomfort with the current government, causing more riots and rallies
>more children won't be able to finish school or even attend until high school
>more street beggars will pop out
>bigger gap between rich upper-class and the poor
>possibly more crowding in urban areas? it would be interesting if they decided to go to back to the
rural places, though.

SOLUTION:

SOLUTION

\The best solution to solve the problem in Barangay Tortugas is to provide livelihood programs like what our Mayor
did in Tuguegarao that each Barangay have a product of their own to sell in order to lessen poverty. They may not
be employed but they have income in order to sustain the needs of their family.