Eastern Mt Province road works on to link Cagayan

By Dionie Chungalan

BARLIG, Mountain Province – Business and tourism in three eastern towns of Mountain Province are bullish with the widening and concreting of a two-way lane road linking these which would become the shortest route to Cagayan Region.

Highways officials said the road would be done before President Aquino III’s term would end in 2016.        

For decades, officials said, eastern towns of Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis suffered from lack of constituents’ education, health facilities, trade and socio-economic development until a muddy, rugged and steep secondary road was constructed with combined efforts of religious, military and government agencies.

When construction was started to widen and concretize it into a 2-way lane, it became the shortest route to the Cagayan Valley instead of detouring to Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya then Isabela.

Now, even with road work, there is easier access of products to market outlets in Bontoc or Santiago City.

To date, under concreting are Talubin-Foca and Kadaclan-Maowoy portions.

Coming next is Lias while Chatol-Barlig has to be completed by connecting the roads.

The Agog-go 2 river bridges were finished while fourBarlig to Lunas bridges are underway.

In Natonin, the Mangnao passage was done, but has to connect yet to Saliok-Paracelis.

Residents and officials said, at least, little by little, this  national highway stretch shall turn to an all-weather road that would benefit everyone while not harming the environment.

They said once the road work would be finished, new discoveries in adventure tourism could be presented and make travelers view nature at its best.

“What could be more idyllic than a peaceful trek on a mountain trail, sunlight filtering through the trees, and then a quiet picnic beside a pristine waterfall, after travelling the road,” said a retired teacher. He added, for sure, tourism will bloom in the three towns in not the whole province.