Brief historical background of Bontoc

(Last of two parts)

 In February 2, 1912, the Bontoc Hospital was opened. It was a one storey brick building which according to the missionary journal Spirit of the Missions is a “beautiful health institution”. It had a 30 bed but could not accommodate all those needing medical attention. Elsewhere, the sick had to rely on traditional remedies or through the help of missionary stations, dispensaries, and Philippine outposts. The Assistant Sanitary Inspectors in-charge of dispensaries in all of the sub-provinces reported that they have treated a total of 12,000 people from 1911-1912.
            The catholic convent mothers administrated medical services at the hospital until the arrival of the first group of Filipino nurses that includes Miss Montemayor, who later on become the wife of Senator Delgado, Miss Maria Tinawen, and Miss Tan. They were headed by Miss Clark, an American nurse. Resident physicians assigned to the hospital listed in chronological order were: Dr. Sapiro, Dr. Pick, Dr. Avellana, Dr. Romulo, Dr. Vinluan, Dr. Intengan, Dr. Mencias, Dr. Ochoa, Dr. Hilary Clapp, Dr. Morales, Dr. Morales, Dr. Onson, Dr. Ringor (1945), Dr. Mendoza (1946), Dr. De Bayan (1948), Dr. A. Floresca (1950), and Dr. Bernardo (1952). When Dr. Hilary Clapp was the resident physician of the hospital, he doubled as the district health officer up to the appointment of Dr. Francisco T. Dy to head the district office.
The hospital building was repaired in 1949 with the aid from the United States War Damage Commission.
            In 2005, the provincial government invested on the physical improvement of the hospital even as more doctors and nurses were hired by Governor Maximo B. Dalog to complete various medical services departments. The instituted developments greatly improved the services of the hospital significantly decreasing the number of medical referrals to medical centers outside the province. Surprisingly, it has been receiving referred patients from nearby provinces.
The hospital is ably assisted by the Municipal Health Office managed by a Municipal Health Officer, 2 nurses, one medical technologist, 15 midwives, 2 sanitary inspectors, 1 dental aid and 138 barangay health workers. Aside from these government facilities, there are 4 medical clinics, 4 dental clinics, and 2 optical clinics all located at Poblacion, established by private individuals to cater to the health and medical needs of the growing population.
            With the pro-health programs of the provincial and municipal governments, public health has greatly improved with the compulsory construction of sanitary toilets and the introduction of proper waste management practices.
 Education
The first school was opened in Bontoc on December 14, 1901 by William F. Smith, an American teacher. Using the Old Catholic church completed by Father Fray Juan J. Iglesias in 1882 as school building, adults attended school without distinct grade levels. Among the early pupils were; Mr. Galo and Mr. Balinag.
            In 1904, the Bontoc Central School was established with John C. Gray as the first principal. The school provided free elementary education but still it was poorly attended. Children were paid an amount equivalent to a day’s work in the field, but they still refused to attend classes that the governor directed the municipal police to assist in getting the children to school. Among the educated Igorots who were hired to teach in the school were Christopher N. Oakes, Josephine K. Cofulan, and Mrs. Fulangen. A brick house changed the old Bontoc Central School building in 1908 but was damaged during theSecond World War. The building was rehabilitated in 1948.
            In 1906, the All Saint’s Mission Elementary School was established by the American Missionaries.
Five years later in March 1911, the Saint Vincent Elementary school was opened by the Belgian Sisters. It was in 1930 when the Saint Vincent High School was established.
            After many resolutions and petitions from the people and community leaders during the incumbency of Governor Bado Dangwa in 1954, the government finally established the Mountain Province High School. The governor had to pay some of the teachers from his salary because the finances of the provincial government could not afford to compensate all those employed. It wasonly in 1966 under the Republic Act 5304 when the high school was nationalized and named Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School through the efforts of Congressman Luis Hora and Juan Duyan.
            The Mountain Province Community College was put up in 1969 and Alfredo Belingon was appointed college dean. John K. Daoas took over Belingon when he moved to the province of Kalinga-Apayao as Division School Superintendent. The only tertiary education institution in the province had to support itself until 1992 when it was converted into a state polytechnic college, the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College through a bill sponsored by Congressman Victor S. Dominguez. An educated Igorot Dr. Marcelino T. Delson, became the first president.
Schools
A few years ago, there were 18 public elementary schools and two private schools in the elementary level while in the secondary level there are 5 public schools and 1 private school.
There are two tertiary schools, the Mountain Province Polytechnic College (Bontoc Campus) located in Poblacion, Bontoc and Xijen College at Caluttit and Poblacion, Bontoc.
Road networks
           Prior to the arrival of the Americans, access to the capital town was through foot and cart trails. Mails were manually carried by postmen.
            In 1907, horse trails made Bontoc accessible via Ifugao from Nueva Viscaya. Roads and trails were soon developed with the aim to end head hunting and intertribal warfare and to facilitate trade and commerce.
            In 1923, the Bontoc-Cervantes road was opened. As an inaugural trip, Mr. Fox drove his car to Bontoc from Cervantes. The Bontoc-Lubuagan road was opened to small sized trucks in 1928. The Bontoc-Kiangan road became accessible in 1930 with the Transit Transportation Company given the franchise to transport passengers along the Bontoc-Bayombong to Nueva Viscaya.
            As of 2007, Bontoc has a road length of 95.92 linear kilometers classified as national road (65.56 kilometers) provincial road (31.71 kilometers) and municipal road (2.67 kilometers). Of the total length, 15.160 kilometers is concreted, 10.725 kilometers is asphalted and 69.050 kilometers is graveled.