TRAILS UP NORTH

Glo Abaeo Tuazon
Paving the road to Windy Hill

Windy Hill. I like the sound of it. It reminds me of upland with tall grass billowing on a sunny, windy afternoon. Where dandelions grow tall and the fully-fluffed bristles explode in individual spikes against the background of open spaces.

But in Windy Hill, Upper Buyagan, another issue exists. Since the place was "conquered" by residents and homes were constructed, the roads seemed to have stayed that way. The roads are of dirt and nothing else. Worse, there are no public utility vehicles plying the route.

Windy Hill in Buyagan has about 34 households. Multiply that with how many people residing in each house and we come up with quite a number of people. Now that is a lot of people having a difficult time coming and going to and from Windy Hill. Then add up the residents along the road from the Valley Bread landmark going up and that would be a lot more.

The residents here have waited a long time for the construction of barangay roads, but the waiting seemed forever. With hopes, a letter of request was sent to Mariano de los Reyes and BABEXJODA (Baguio-Buyagan Express Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association) from a Mr. David N. Apacway as a representative of the residents of Upper Buyagan.

In it was written a request to include Windy Hill, Buyagan Memorial Park ad Upper Buyagan to the normal route being plied by the jeepney association. After the letter was a collection of about 200 signatures.

BABEXJODA at that time was only plying the route from Center Mall, Baguio to Motorpool. In 2006 the jeepney association started plying the route as requested. But like the residents, the jeepney association was soon in trouble traveling the tough route. The road going up the barangay was very steep requiring a lot more from vehicles.

It was dry and dusty on hot summer days and slippery and dangerous during rainy seasons. In 2007 de los Reyes met with the 150 drivers and operators under his association and decided to use their funds to construct a tire path. With not much money that was what they could afford. With the residents of Windy Hill, the association forged a tie-up and with the little fund they started the first phase. The path extends to about 25-30 meters. The equipments were borrowed.

Commuting was easier from then on until the lower portion of the finished tire paths started collecting water again, creating hazard and nuisance. In a second ditch, the same jeepney association and residents gathered to work it out. The drivers and operators sacrificed again part of their funds to do a backfill job.

These people did on their own what should have been done by proper authorities, because they could not wait forever for progress to come to their place. A group of people who thought it is better to do something than whine and complain. Surprisingly, I learned that BABEXJODA even joined efforts with Bayanihan Barangay in Baguio to do some clean up drive and donate a little number of books. To date they also have other requests for help coming from individuals and other entities.

Lauding all the members and officers of BABEXJODA is something, but following the trend that they have started is even more appropriate. -- email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com