How trustworthy are barangay statistics and surveys?

As executive director of the “free tuberculosis clinic” in Payatas, Quezon City, I am in contact with hundreds of patients from our barangay and its surroundings.

Whenever I meet a patient who comes from another barangay, I would ask them: “Sorry, (I would just like to know), why do you come here? Do you not have health center in your barangay?” The answers are always more or less the same: “Mayroon po, pero walang gamot” (There is, but it has no medicine), “Walang doctor po sa health center” (There is but there’s no doctor), or, “Matagal ang magpa-X-ray” (It takes a long wait to get an X-ray), and many other answers.

However last month, I got a reply which left me speechless: “When I went to the barangay health center, I was told that the barangay was tuberculosis-free; and if they treat me for TB, their statistics and name will be ‘spoiled.’”

The answer bothered me: Is that barangay concerned less about its people or more about its statistics? What is most important for them: the people’s health or “TB-free awards”? How trustworthy are the statistics “gathered” or presented by our barangays. Do their statistics reflect the realities in their communities?

I confess: At present, I find it very difficult to believe in the statistics and surveys of barangays.

—FR. FACUNDO MELA, FDP,

Mother of Divine Providence Parish,

24 San Juan Evangelista St.,

Payatas A, Quezon City 1119