Abstract :
The Northeastern College–College of Liberal Arts (NC-COLA) is committed to uplifting community well-being through responsive extension programs. This study evaluated the community needs of Barangay Mabini across seven domains: Education and Parenting, Food Safety and Hygiene, Human Rights and Violence Awareness, Livelihood and Financial Literacy, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Environmental Conservation, and Organizational Planning and Management. Using a descriptive mixed-method design combining survey questionnaires and key informant interviews, results showed that Livelihood and Financial Literacy obtained the highest weighted mean (4.75), identifying economic vulnerability as the community’s most pressing concern. Food Safety and Hygiene (4.72), Organizational Planning and Management (4.68), Environmental Conservation (4.63), and DRRM (4.59) also registered high demand, reflecting gaps in public health, governance, and disaster preparedness. Human Rights and Violence Awareness (4.48) indicated greater preference for practical safety programs over formal legal education. It was concluded that Barangay Mabini requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder interventions targeting economic empowerment, institutional governance, and community resilience. Recommendations include financial literacy and livelihood programs, strengthening of the Barangay DRRM Council, systematic waste management, and capacity-building for local officials in partnership with relevant government agencies.
Keywords :
community needs assessment, livelihood, disaster risk reduction, barangay governance, public health, extension servicesReferences :
- Adorio, L., & Bacani, R. (2021). Needs-Based Extension Approaches in Philippine Higher Education Institutions. Philippine Journal of Community Engagement, 5(2), 23–35.
- Alarte, M. V. H. (2022). Community needs assessment in Sitio Sapa, Barangay San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal: Basis of social welfare extension program of the University of Rizal System Rodriguez, Rizal. Asean Social Work Journal, 10(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.58671/aswj.v10i1.8
- Alibegović, D., Koren, I., & Pavić, Z. (2020). Needs Assessment as a Basis for Community Development Planning. Journal of Community Engagement, 15(2), 45–58.
- Amidu, M., Abor, J. Y., & Issahaku, H. (2021). Inclusive finance, financial literacy and livelihood activities of households in Ghana.
- Anderson, E., & McFarlane, J. (2019). Community as Partner: Theory and Practice in Nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Bartolome, M., Mamat, N., Masnan, A. (2017). PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURES. International Journal of Early Childhood Education Care Vol.6, 2017 ISSN 2289-3156 /eISSN 2550-1763 (41-50)
- Bautista, C., & Mendoza, R. (2021). Challenges in the Implementation of University Extension Programs in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 41(3), 221–234.
- Brillantes, A. B., & Moscare, D. (2002). Decentralization and federalism in the Philippines: Lessons from global community. Paper presented at the International Conference on Decentralization, Manila, Philippines.
- Brinkerhoff, D. W., & Crosby, B. L. (2002). Managing policy reform: Concepts and tools for decision-makers in developing and transitioning countries. Kumarian Press.
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 52, s. 2016. Pathways to Institutionalizing Extension Function in Philippine Higher Education Institutions.
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (2023). State of the Philippine environment report 2023. https://denr.gov.ph
- Heise, L. (2011). What works to prevent partner violence? The Lancet, 377(9777), 1582–1583.
- Jernigan, V., Maudrie, T., Nikolaus, C., Benally, T., Johnson,S., Teague, T., Mayes, M., Jacob, T., & Taniguchi, T. (2021). Food Sovereignty Indicators for Indigenous Community Capacity Building and Health. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 5:704750. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.704750
- Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. (2014). The economic importance of financial literacy: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5–44.
- Magno, E., & Cañete, R. (2020). Revisiting Extension Management Practices of Philippine Universities. Journal of Philippine Education Research, 14(1), 47–62.
- Monteiro, A. (2014). The Active Role of Community-Based Organizations in The Local Redefinition of National Policies. Revista de cercetare [i interven]ie social. ISSN: 1583-3410 (print), ISSN: 1584-5397
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2020). OECD/INFE International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy.
- Shaw, R., Shiwaku, K., & Takeuchi, Y. (2011). Disaster Education. Emerald Group Publishing.
- Sidiq, F., Coles, D., Hubbard, C. Clark, B. & Frewer, L. (2022). The Role of Traditional Diets in Promoting Food Security for Indigenous Peoples in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 978 012001.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2009). Capacity development: A UNDP primer. UNDP Bureau for Development Policy. https://www.undp.org
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
- Uy, R., & Arendain, J. (2023). Community Needs Assessment as Basis for the Extension Program of Philippine College Foundation. International Journal of Scientific and Management Research. Volume 6 Issue 07, 71-87. http://doi.org/10.37502/IJSMR.2023.6705

