For the past 16 months, a handful of Dandan residents are volunteering to keep our village clean and safe.
Every Saturday you’ll see us along roadsides collecting trash, mowing the roadsides, and cutting down trees and tree branches that block our view of the traffic and pedestrians, particularly on intersections.
And as we all know, we have our Dandan Homestead Children’s Park that was left abandoned after its Phase I construction. The park was victimized by vandals who, twice, robbed the residents of Dandan by stealing the electrical wires, the restroom facility and pavilions destroyed and plastered with graffiti. The group has managed to maintain the park periodically and plans to restore electricity and renovate the restroom facility and the pavilions so that we can all enjoy what the park can offer us, residents and visitors alike.
Despite the sacrifices, we continue to do this every Saturday because this is Home for us. And we take pride, as we all should, in living in a clean, healthy, and relatively safe village. We are committed and determined to work hard: one roadside at a time, one additional volunteer at a time. Not all of us have the time to do these every Saturday. Understandably, we have our homes and families to take care of. And we don’t expect individuals to volunteer every Saturday or for half a day on a Saturday. Come when you can and for as long as you can. Every able body is more than welcome to join the group. Every bit helps.
Every single one of us has a responsibility and roles to play. We must attempt to understand why we should all work hard, as individuals, families, or group, to keep our village clean, healthy, and safe. First, and again, this is Home. This is where we live and raise our children. Second, we cannot, and should not, expect the government to do everything for us. What we lack is an understanding that there must be a symbiosis of a working relationship between the people and government. Meaning, what we can do, let’s do it so as to free the government to focus on major issues such as public education, public safety, public health, to name a few.
Never before is this relationship needed now when we are faced with tremendous economic challenges. We must become active partners and exercise our civic duties and be a part of the solution.
What can we do? Simple. Be Responsible!
1. Let’s start by talking to our family members about littering. Around our homes and in our village. We are a clean and civilized people.
2. Try the best we can to main tain our homes and yards. And after mowing the yard, rid of the mowed grass and debris on the road. And if you have a vacant or abandoned lot next to yours, maintain it the best you can, if you have the time.
3. Observe the speed limit. We are all victims of someone’s irresponsible driving behavior.
4. Make sure that trees or plants do not block drivers’ sight of the traffic.
5. Betel nut spitting is not culture. It’s unhealthy and ugly. It’s your habit, deal with it responsibly.
6. Be thoughtful. Think about other things that you can do to make our village a better place to live.
7. And when we, the volunteers, are out working, please, keep us safe!
In conclusion, I want to extend my most profound gratitude and my salute to those of you who have helped us in one way or another. And to my dearest partners: Mitch Aaron, Nunu Sanchez, Ben Matagolai, Congressman Joe Palacios, Congressman Eli Cabrera, John San Nicolas, Manny Muna, Phil Mendiola, and John Leon Guerrero (if I miss someone, my apology), your unselfish and untiring commitment to this very worthy cause have become the impetus that the residents and visitors to Dandan are enjoying: A clean, healthy and relatively safe village. You are the difference!
FRANK B. CAMACHO
Group Leader
Dandan Neighborhood Watch
& Village Revitalization Team
