In Navotas, where the sea meets the city, lies a community overlooked by its own government. It sits at the frontline near the water, experiencing the worst from ineffective flood control projects and broken governance. With stories of survival and grit, the residents of Brgy Bagong Silang continue to face even bigger challenges, often bearing the most severe consequences of aggressive development.
Many barangay residents come from Leyte and the Visayas, having moved to Manila in search of work and stability. For generations, they built their lives around fishing and tahungan (mussel farming). Today, these livelihoods have vanished, replaced by large-scale reclamation projects along Manila Bay conducted by private corporations, and supported by local government units. The excessive pollution and chemicals poured into the waters have rendered the sea essentially dead. Without stable incomes, residents are forced to rely on ineffective government projects like the TUPAD program, which only provides at most a few weeks of income. This, coupled with the difficulties of daily living, leaves them with no water, electricity, or sanitation facilities. Given these, the community is also helpless against diseases like leptospirosis and dengue, with their access to hospitals and health centers extremely limited.
Though the community had no hand in causing these environmental problems, they ultimately pay the price for them. Their narrative is not one of resilience, it is one of neglect. Amidst these challenges, there is space for learning, hope, and resistance.
This September, Agham Youth is launching the People’s Science School, along with community leaders who have tirelessly kept the spirit of the barangay alive. This grassroots initiative aims to democratize education, helping the community with their immediate needs like learning about (health, hygiene, sex education). The People’s Science School is not a classroom with four walls, but one that is community-driven, empowering families to equip themselves with baseline knowledge to navigate their everyday lives. This initiative may also create a space for critical discussion on the environment and the community’s options for survival, adopting resistance beyond just resilience.
The action of Agham Youth is more than just an expression of advocacy. It is a clear reminder that we, as members of society, cannot remain passive in the face of pressing issues. Their initiative signifies a call to action, urging us to recognize that change does not happen on its own; it requires courage, unity, and the willingness to confront the challenges of our time. By taking a stand, Agham Youth demonstrates that the power to transform society rests not only in institutions but also in the hands of ordinary citizens, especially the youth. Their efforts embody the belief that social progress begins with awareness, is strengthened by collective action, and is sustained through continuous struggle for justice and equality.
In this light, their movement is not just for themselves but for all of us. It challenges us to reflect: What role will we play in shaping the society we envision? The answer lies in our readiness to act, to question, and to work together for a better and more just future.