P540 M Bauko-Sagada via Sabangan road pushed

By Gina Dizon

BAUKO, Mountain Province --   The proposed P540 million improvement of  an 18-km   from  the  Abatan Mountain Province –Ilocos Sur  Junction  to Bagnen leading to  Sagada via  Madepdeppas road is up for endorsement  to convergence tourism road program of Department of  Public Works and Highways and  Department of  Tourism.

DOT regional officer-in-charge Mary Bilagot said documents are in progress for the necessary endorsement for funding and eventual inclusion for budgeting by the Department of Budget and Management for 2016.

In a press conference here with media from Baguio and Mountain Province during the BaukoBegnas festival last week, Mountain Province Rep. MaximoDalog said the proposal following endorsement from the DPWH and the DOT shall go to concerned congressional committee for funding deliberation of said proposed road.

Currently, a one lane road traverses a section of the Abatan road towards Bagnen.

Travel to Bagnen along Madepdepas, Sabangan  route  shows  awesome  views of  mountain sides and rice terraces  to add to cool breeze   fanned by  pine needles  nestling topmost   barangay of  Bauko which is Bagnen located near Sagada.

Bagnen is where the much trekked Mt. Polis peak is reached  by  a 30-minute trek  of stairways with railings one can hold on to offering friendly hikes  for senior citizens.

Mt. Polis has amazing views of   Bagnen and lower Bauko including Sagada and Sabangan.

Nearby sitioBalintugan of Barangay Bagnen has vast bushes and trees which then served as an airfield of helicopters and planes of the US armed forces during World War 11.  

A historic path now grown with bushes and wild flora called Spanish Trail from nearby Ilocos towards Bagnen leading to AbatanBauko is up for clearing and improvement  by the Bauko local government unit.

Bauko’sBegnas festival guest speaker regional assistant director Albert Gahid of the DPWH said opening of the Abatan-Bagnen road or the Abatan Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur junction to Bagnen leading to Sagada via Madepdeppas Road would boost tourism. 

Meantime, the P300 million completion of the GuinzadanBauko - CagubatanTadian-BaliliMankayan road is lobbied for funding and implementation on or before 2016.  

The road improvement would mean easier access to tourist spots Gawaan Lake and Mt Mogao of Cagubatan, Tadian.

Meanwhile, the Begnas festival  of this vegetable growing  municipality featured opening of the  newly improved  4-km Mabaay- Abatan road with inauguration of said road by Dalog among other officials.

The Mabaay- Abatan road is a crucial access point northbound towards Sagada and Bontoc and southbound towards Ifugao and BuguiasBenguet .

Mountain Province had been allocated P565 million for road infrastructure in 2011 to P819.5 million in 2014 with P340 million allocated for tourism roads.

Under the 2015 budget,  P1.3 billion  was allocated for  road infra of which P200 million was budgeted for  the improvement of tourist destinations , the  P100 million Guinzadan- Cagubatan  and P100 million Balili- Suyo road.