Far Mt Province town now wired

By Roger Sacyaten

BARLIG, Mountain Province – This remote town is now wired to the world after years of relying on telegrams or letters or couriers to send their messages across – thanks to installation of a Globe Telecommunications Repeater.

Local folks said with the repeater that covers four central barangays of the municipality, they could now enjoy services that internet connections usher in.

A couple of weeks ago, the repeater facility was hastily installed through the initiatives of municipal officials led by Mayor Clark Ngaya who earlier committed to work out the putting up of the facility up opportunities for residents to access updated information and for them to connect to their friends and relatives through  social media.

Barlig had been unreachable through the internet and cell site facilities with the exception of Kadaclan, albeit in certain areas, signals could be found.

“We are grateful and elated that there is now cellphone signal although limited to the four barangays of Gawana, Latang, Macalana, and Fiangtin”, said Solomon Lamaton, a long-time local resident.

Isolation of the place has brought inconvenience in contacting people to include y official communications to government offices and officials.

“There were many instances when we sent letters and notices to and out of Barlig only to know that such did not reach the intended recipients. The letters may have gotten lost along the way”, said an office employee responsible in sending communications. She said she was thankful the inconvenience was a thing of the past.

“Now, communications are just texts away and we are happy for that,” said MerilynFogayong, a municipal employee.

Residents aid with the repeater, business will flourish in the town and social developments hastened with use of social media.

Lamaton, however, lamented slides and washouts along the newly paved Talubin-Barlig national road due to Typhoon Lando destroyed whart otherwise would have been a perfect situation in terms of transport, mobility and communication for the town.

“While we appreciate the availability of cellphone signals, we are saddened that Barlig was isolated by land,” he said referring to three washouts.

Information gathered that people traversing the road must hike hours before a transfer of rides can be available.

Even water supply to the capital town of Bontoc had been cut for weeks from the source caused by the washouts.

In an earlier interview with Ngaya, he cited need put up telecommunication satellites in the municipality as one of the priorities of his administration.

“It is our intention to hasten the development of the municipality by all means possible”, he said.