BARANGAY BECKEL

MISSION/VISION/GOALS

Mission

To deliver socio-economic services through active and dedicated Barangay Development Council utilizing maximum resources with active participation of citizens living in an ecologically balanced community.

Vision

We envision barangay Beckel as a God-loving, law-abiding, sports oriented, healthy and safe community where the residents live in a friendly and peaceful environment, enjoying proper standards of living under effective Governance.

Goals

1. To boost environment protection awareness.
2. To actively implement Barangay Ordinances and deliver social services effectively and efficiently.
3. To encourage the youth, NGOs, and individuals as well to participate in barangay activities, public assemblies, and social gatherings.
4. To provide projects in support to child welfare and livelihood programs

BARANGAY BECKEL

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The few settlers of the area during the pre-Spanish times were the Ibalois.  During the Spanish period (1846-1900), forced labor, cruelty and exorbitant taxation in the valley area drove away its residents to far flung areas.  One of them was Pitay who resided in the area of Sitio Balangbang.  Others went toward the direction of Wangal, Shilan and Bineng.  Some Kankanaeys also started to settle in the area.

The people continued to plant camote and gabi.  Stone and wooden tools were used for digging these root crops.  Devious stories have been retold of how they would steal the wheels of the horsewagons in order to make iron tools for farming.

Many social changes occurred in the lives of the people upon the arrival of the Americans (1901-1945).  Iron tools and the production of vegetables such as beans, cabbage, cauliflower, squash and other vegetables in the American diet were introduced.  Money, candies and canned goods were unknown of and they initially mistook them for children’s play things.

The right to vote was done by assigning a color to a candidate.  The candidate who garnered the most number of colors was declared the winner.  As many began to learn to read and write, the elections were done through the ballots.  A certain Billy Holman was made barangay leader or “Capitanes de Barangay” and became a very powerful man.    A school was constructed sometime in 1933.  This school was destroyed upon the arrival of the Japanese.  During the war, many of the men joined the organization of “bolo” men who served the guerilla movement by acting as spies and feeding the guerillas on the move.

Reconstruction efforts after the war started with the reconstruction of the elementary school.  Mr. Peresen Depaynos and Mrs. Casimiro taught grades 1 and 2 respectively.  In 1955, additional grades were taught by Mr. and Mrs. Nievera, Mr.Simeon Bunagan and Mr. Tanacio Asitan.  It is the first area to have a paved road leading to the school.  Up to 1966, Beckel was part of the barangay of Pico.  Under the administration of Mayor Cipriano Abalos, Beckel was made a separate barangay.

The following are the list of Barangay Captains/Punong Barangay of Beckel since 1967 up to present:

Today, Beckel remains to be an agricultural area with a population density of four (4) persons per hectare.  It is home to Office of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and offers eco-tourist attractions for those adventurous hikers.  Much effort on the part of its development planners remain to be focused on the provision of basic services, utilities and infrastructure for its people.