Bontoc support Sagada in disputed road project

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The local government of Sagada got a boost from officials of the capital town of Bontoc in its thrust to implement a road project to boost tourism which certain government officials were reportedly trying to derail.

The Sangguniang Bayan here in their regular session last week approved a resolution supporting the Sagada local government  in urging the Department of  Public Works and Highway to prepare program of work for the  Sabangan-Sagada road project which would pass BarangayBalili of Bontoc.

 The Bontoc SB resolution was forwarded to DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson for action with copies furnished to DPWH regional director Edilberto Carabaccan and Department of Tourism regional director Purificacion Molintas.     

 Signed by the eight member legislative body led by vice mayor William Aspilan, the  Bontoc SB resolution stated that the Balili route  serves the  Kaman Otek-Ibao lake tourist spot located  at Balili, Bontoc further stating that the "irregular Sabangan-Sagada via  Madepdeppas road is apparently a divertionary effort to  divert and derail tourism development goals”.  

 The DPWH regional office prepared a program of work  with  Sabangan-Sagada road passing via  Madepdeppas route located in Sabangan following survey activities done by Mountain Province-DPWH personnel.   

Said P100 million Sabangan-Sagada road project is now in the DPWH central office for their approval for implementation following preliminary detailed engineering activities.  

 The P100 million Sagada-Sabangan road project has been included in the 2013 General Appropriations Act  under the  DOT’s priority tourism infrastructure development road project following a 2011 resolution from the  Sagada SB requesting Singson for the extension of the Dantay-Sagada Road  starting from the road atop Sumaguing Cave in Sagada  and exiting  at the Balili route joining  the Bontoc-Baguio Road.

The Sagada resolution was endorsed by DOT director Molintas  after  inspection of said Balili route and named it  Sabangan-Sagada road being near an  interprovincial route  as per criteria  of the tourism road infrastructure  project prioritization criteria (TRIPPC) set by the DOT-DPWH convergence program.