Officials agree on terms:Sabangan-Sagada road project bidded out

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Officials of this tourist town, formerly at odds over a P11 million road project, are now getting their acts together with the common sentiment to have the proposed Sabangan- Sagada road start in Sagada and not in Sabangan.

This, as the P100 million Sabangan-Sagada road project was bidded out as noted from the Department of Public Works and Highways advertisements.

Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. said he favors the starting point of the said road project to begin work in Sagada.

Latawan’s stand goes with the position of the Sangguniang Bayan chaired by vice Mayor Richard Yodong who said that the SB had long stood for the project to begin in Sagada.”

This was contrary to the news account of another weekly paper stating that the Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada is now agreeing with other officials for the road to pass the Balili route.

Yodong said “other officials” had long wanted to start road works in the Madepdeppas route.

Yodong said it is desired that the project start in PoblacionSagada with the improvement of the road system in the central town on to the end of the Dantay-Sagada national road above Sumaguing cave.

The road improvement shall then lead towards the Suyo-Payageo road to develop the road system towards Balangagan cave intended to be highlighted as a tourist attraction.

Said road measures some 9 km from central Poblacion to the Balili-Suyo route.

A validation and inspection team composed of representatives from the Department of Tourism, Public Works and Highways, National Economic and Development Authority and the provincial tourism offices met following their Nov, 21 inspection and strongly recommended that the road project start above Sumaguing Cave where the Dantay-Sagada road ends towards Suyo in southern Sagada.

Latawan on the other hand said that the road project may start in sitioMabisil along the Suyo- Ambasing road.

The Sangguniang Bayan in their 2011 resolution asked DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson for the extension of the Dantay- Sagada road to the existing SuyoBalili route joining the Bontoc-Baguio national road.

Said road was inspected by DOT Director PurificacionMolintas in 2012, termed the road as Sabangan -Sagada road and had it endorsed by the regional development council till a P100 million fund was budgeted in the General Appropriations Act of 2013 for said project.

The Madepdeppas route of the Sabangan-Sagada road, in the middle of the year in 2012, became the subject of opposition by the Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada.

The Madepdeppas route follows a 6.5 km route from the Sabangan junction in Nacagang to Taccong, Sagada.

A bridge along the Inakang River is necessary to be built to connect Taccong and reach Suyo.

DPWH estimates P20 million cost for one kilometer of road construction.

Southern Sagada is site of Pongas Falls and Balangagan Cave. With the proposed road passing this route via Balili, these tourist sites would be highlighted.

The Balili route is ideal for biking, star gazing, and bird watching.