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Image by Lyra Ponce de Leon and Candy-Mae Gallera; Captured in Malolos, Bulacan

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Bulacan is observed to have poor quality road infrastructures evidenced by lack of road safety signs and rough, bumpy, and muddy roads especially seen in the city of Malolos Bulacan. In fact, Bulakenos coined Bulacan as the province of “Lubakan” pertaining to the poor road infrastructure.

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Image by Lyra Ponce de Leon and Candy-Mae Gallera; Captured in Malolos, Bulacan

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Improved road infrastructure aids in safer mobility and easier connectivity especially in rural areas in Bulacan.  Moreover, due to overuse and time, road infrastructures are becoming aged without us noticing. What looks acceptable on the surface can be hiding a significant problem below. As a result, it requires maintenance, renewal and modernisation as it may cause road hazards and accidents.

It is also vital to tourism which in turn helps in economic generation and employment rate

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Image by Lyra Ponce de Leon and Candy-Mae Gallera; Captured in Malolos, Bulacan

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It needs to be addressed also because it has become a burden to people especially the commuters. According to many Bulakenos, Malolos is slowly becoming like EDSA due to traffic congestion along with poor road maintenance. Some prefer walking because it’s the faster way to get to their destination.

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Image by Jay Nelz; captured in Sta. Maria Bulacan

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Weak sector governance and limited implementation capacity are significant factors that contribute to the poor quality of the road system. Only 38% of funds have been spent on prioritized projects, while 25%–30% of annual routine maintenance expenses has been spent on roadside cleaning and beautification projects designed to generate employment rather than to maintain or improve the quality of the national road network.

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Most local government units have inadequate financial and technical capacities resulting in the suffering of the maintenance of local roads. One result is that many roads that have primarily local functions have been converted to national roads to tap the DPWH  maintenance budget. This not only increases the pressure on the financial and technical resources available to the DPWH, but it also interferes in the planning and budgeting process for the overall road network.

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Fast Track Ultrasonic Imaging Technology

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Fast Track Ultrasonic Imaging Technology

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Cars are outfitted with ultrasonic and GPS technologies to internally examine roads without stopping. The cars travel along track, collecting detailed imaging and location data. Information are then transmitted to test monitoring sites where analysts examine thoroughly the data to identify the suspected internal defects. Depending on its severity, carriers are given 36 to 84 hours to send off the teams to the site to inspect the defect. If the defect is verified, regulations require that the road be immediately applied with the proper remedial action.

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It can determine evaluation markers such as load carrying capacity and concrete surface inspections simply by driving a specialized vehicle across a road allowing engineers to determine potential issues within a structure in a matter of minutes, rather than hours. Factors that cannot seen by the naked eye such as the durability of the concrete can now be measured by the engineers through the device

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Although it presents great impacts and benefits to people and infrastructures, it costs too much and it is a more complex system. Apart from that, innovations that might create largely positive effects for already-privileged majority groups could have  different implications for the marginalized or otherwise minority groups.

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Bulacan is a province in the Republic of the Philippines that lies at the heart of Fareast Asia. It is the land of Tagalog Poets, whose prosperous towns and rich agricultural lands have nurtured the most vibrant and colorful people.

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Bulacan is well known for its rich historical heritage. It was in Malolos City (Bulacan’s capital city) where the historic Barasoain Church is located and is the birthplace of the First Constitutional Democracy in Asia.

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The province is also the cradle of the nation's noble heroes and Marcelo H. Del Pilar - “The Great Propagandist” and General Gregorio del Pilar “The Hero of Tirad Pass” are among them.

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Located in San Miguel, Bulacan. It is the mountain hideout of the revolutionary forces during the Spanish regime and the place where the Malolos Constitution was signed.

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Located in Norzagaray. It is a very interesting spot where the foot markings of the legendary Bernardo Carpio and his pets can be found.

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A procession of well-decorated pagodas is held on the river every 23rd of June right before the annual town fiesta in honor of St. John the Baptist.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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The Obando fiesta is celebrated from May 17-19. Couples who are childless can take this occasion and dance to please the Virgin of Salambao. Maidens and bachelors who want husbands and wives can dance for their mates.

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Image from Provincial Government of Bulacan

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Bulacan is situated in the country’s Central Luzon Region at the north of Manila which is the nation’s capital. Its capital is the City of Malolos.

it is proximate and accessible to the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila. It is bounded by the provinces of Aurora and Quezon on the east, Nueva Ecija on the north, Pampanga on the west and Rizal on the southeast and Manila Bay on the southwest.

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The province has a land area of 2,783.69 square kilometers or 1,074.79 square miles. It comprises 3 cities, 21 municipalities, and 569 barangays.

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As of the 2020 census, Bulacan registered a total population of 3,708,890. The province is considered to be the largest province in Central Luzon in terms of population.

Its population density of 1332 persons per square kilometer was also the highest in the region.

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Of the 24 towns in the province, City of San Jose Del Monte was the largest city in terms of population size.

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According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Bulacan is 5 to 9, with 329,260 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 22,565 individuals.

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Majority (90.4%) of the population in Bulacan classified themselves as Tagalog. Others were Bisaya (2.22%), and Bicol/Bikol (1.95%). Other ethnic groups included Ilocano and Cebuano with 1.08% and 0.75%, respectively.

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The annual regular revenue of Bulacan for the fiscal year of 2016 was ₱3,527,337,309.07.

Based on the estimates of PSA, the annual average income of a Bulakeño family was higher than the regional and national average. Among the seven provinces in Central Luzon, Bulacan ranked second with the highest income earner families.

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The agricultural lands of Bulacan province are fast giving way to urbanization and industrialization. There are many small and medium scale enterprises (SME) in the province and in fact, the local government is praising and advertising it as the SME capital of the Philippines.

The province is a major supplier of Metro Manila’s food, especially rice, meat, and vegetables.

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There have been several reports about massive deforestation in Bulacan and how it contributed to the recurring water crisis in nearby areas such as Metro Manila.

One notable example is the Bulacan forests, which have suffered heavily from deforestation. Rappler reported about the Ipo watershed in Bulacan, which has lost 70% of its forest due to illegal activities like illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.

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Last May 2018, fisherfolks in Taliptip reported illegal and massive cutting of mangroves in their vicinity. 653 mangroves were cut down and left behind according to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Guiguinto, Bulacan. These mangroves are a vital resource especially for coastal communities.

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Trees are a vital resource, especially for coastal communities. They serve as a natural coastline protection from floods and storm surges, help in preserving biodiversity, and mitigate climate change. This is especially important because most governments around the world aren’t doing enough to cut down on carbon emissions. Without them, the world would be a very different place. This is especially important because the province of Bulacan has the biggest agroforestry plantations in Central Luzon according to DENR information officer of the region.

In the long run, the people will be the one to suffer for all this deforestation. Increasing levels of soil erosion, river siltation, flooding, and drought can all be attributed to deforestation in the country.

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According to the Global Forest Watch System, from 2002 to 2020, Bulacan lost 936 hectares of primary forest, making up 20% of its total tree cover loss in the same time period. Total area of primary forest in Bulacan decreased by 1.6% in this time period.

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From 2001 to 2020, Bulacan lost 5.04 kilo hectares of tree cover, equivalent to a 4.1% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 2.74Mt of CO₂e emissions.

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In Bulacan, the top 2 regions were responsible for 72% of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2020. Doña Remedios Trinidad had the most tree cover loss at 2.23kha.

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Acoustic monitoring devices powered by solar panel

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Acoustic monitoring devices powered by solar panel

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The sensors of these devices have the capacity to record the sounds around them and transmit the data to the cloud; streaming apps are also available so anyone can listen. Different forest sounds are classified using machine learning techniques as to whether they are natural sounds such as those of the animals in the area from disturbing ones, such as chainsaw or gunshots.

When disturbing sounds are detected, the devices sends an alert to authorities to confirm the findings and know the exact location of where it’s happening so they can then take action. All of this happens within seconds.

If confirmed, they are able to use drones and satellite images in that location to record evidence of illegal activity and report the illegal activity to the authorities who can take the appropriate legal actions.

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It helps detect illegal poaching and logging activities and monitor biodiversity in real time.

If we can detect disturbance in the forest, we may be able to prevent incidents of illegal deforestation and animal poaching before they happen.

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Although it detects and monitors real-time changes, the question is how do you actually monitor and stop illegal activities to save the rainforest and stop hunting in real-time. The illegal loggers and hunters may be prosecuted provided the evidence but it may be too late if they have already cut the trees or killed the animals.

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