Travel to Ilocos faster with new Bauko road

By Epifano Agbulos

BAUKO, Mountain Province – A P25.3M circumferential road was recently opened here to link this town with Cordillera provinces and the Ilocos Sur which could be reached now  for 2-3 hours from here.

Dept. of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera regional director Janet P. Armas and lawyer Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., representing Legislative Caretaker Allen Jesse Mangaoang led inauguration and blessing of the recently completed Kalimbatawa circumferential road and drainages here at Otucan Sur recently.

Funds for the project was sourced from the 2018 General Appropriations Act.

The project, which was a partnership effort between the local government of Bauko, DSWD, Office of the Congressman and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways will benefit some 355 families who were chosen as beneficiaries of the Core Shelter Assistance Project of the DSWD.

The CSAP aims to grant indigent families who have been residing in hazardous areas classified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as those who may have been afflicted by previous natural disasters.

In her message, Armas urged beneficiaries to occupy their respective units considering the road that circles the whole neighborhood including its drainages have been constructed in their favor.

“We commit to continue developing this area in order for it to become an eco-tourism park, only if we see that our beneficiaries show their support by occupying their own units,” Armas said.

Purok Kalimbatawa is currently being occupied by 75 beneficiaries which is not even a quarter of the awarded 355 units constructed in 2015.

With the recent developments of construction of said circumferential road, it is expected that more homeowners will be encouraged to occupy their respective units, Mayor Abraham Akilit said. 

A Korean Church also stands at the area for religious and mission purposes.

Meanwhile, Dalog urged beneficiaries to do their social obligation in maintaining their new homes entrusted by the government.

“With this new road, may your core shelters be turned into humble and valuable abodes to remind you of your respective tasks in preserving and sustaining the shelters.  May this help empower you as a community as we all envision this program as a key to community development,” he said.

The inauguration was also attended by Mountain Province District Engineer Alexander Castaneda, municipal employees, barangay officials and the community.