P103 million road projects set to start in Mt. Province

By Andrew B. Doga-ong

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Road projects worth P103 million under the expanded Payapa at MasaganangPamayanan or Pamana program of the government are set for implementation this year in this province.

Local Government Director Anthony Ballug identified the approved projects as: Besao–Tubo, Abra road opening with funding of P50 million; improvement of the Bontoc–Mainit Road – P20 million; improvement of the Natonin-Toboy Road – P20 million; Betwagan Access Road in Sadanga – P6 million, and the improvement of the Poblacion, Paracelis-Marat Road in Paracelis- P7 milion.

Ballug said the road projects in Betwagan, Sadanga, and in Paracelis have already started implementation while the other projects are yet to start pending completion of some requirements.

Last week, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), DILG and the local officials of Sadanga launched the P45.9- million Betwagan Steel Bridge Project in Sadanga, also a Pamana project.

When finished, this bridge is seen to hasten economic activities of the far-flung barangays of Betwagan and Anabel which are known for their legumes and basi or sugar cane wine products.

The various Pamana projects are part of the economic development programs of the Aquino administration to help win the peace in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities nationwide.

The Pamana projects are funded by the Department of Budget and Management and the OPAPP with the DILG as fund administrator and also overseer of the implementation of the project.