MP road projects set; folks told: Settle road rights of way

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- More road projects funded under the Department of Interior and Local Government - Conditional Matching Grants to Provinces (DILG-CMGP) will implemented this year in this province particularly in remote areas.

This, as officials urged local folks affected by road rights of way to settle with government so these could be resolved faster.

Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, with DILG and provincial officials, led the synchronized groundbreaking of four provincial roads expected to be completed within a year: upgrading of Abatan-Bagnen Provincial Road worth P24 million, Ampawilen-Sadanga provincial road (P24-M); Talubin- Can-eo Provincial Road (P24-M) and Guinzadan-Banao- Andanum Provincial Road worth 21.7 million.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing of the P36.4 million 1.06-kilometer Abatan-Bagnen Road was also held.

The P24 million-worth Abatan-Bagnen road project will start where the newly-blessed road stretch ended.

Bagnen Parish Rector Tristan Bate-il officiated blessing of the completed as well as projects which are about to start. A turnover program ensued at the Bagnen Proper open gym.

In his message, Provincial Engineer Edward B. Likigan gave a brief background of the CMGP projects. He acknowledged efforts of concerned offices in the provincial government and the DILG for including the Provincial Government in the project grants.

According to Likigan, the CMGP projects are in addition to the ongoing road projects under the I-BUILD component of the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the projects that are being implemented by the DPWH.

In the case of Bagnen, he said that the improvement of the Abatan-Bagnen road section will soon see completion with the series multi-funded road improvements happening in the area.

DILG-CAR Regional Office Local Government Operations Officer VI Jimmy B. Pagaddut urged the community to cooperate with project implementers by helping in the monitoring and safeguarding of the projects and by helping convince the lot owners affected to allow the road upgrading to allow for progress and development.

Gov. Lacwasan expressed gratitude to the DILG for bringing more projects to Mountain Province.

Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli and Office of the Congressman representative Clementine Culallad expressed support and solidarity with all officials in the projects and programs for development.

In response, the barangay officials asked their fellow residents to support road projects that are being implemented in their place.

They urged their constituents to help resolve road right of way issues that may hamper the implementation of the projects and assist their officials in monitoring the projects.

Also, Vladimir Lawilao, project contractor for the Abatan-Bagnen road project and who spoke on behalf of all the contractors, committed to comply with specifications set in the program of work and on the timely implementation and completion of the road project.

Meanwhile, the Bagnen Coffee Satellite Buying Station which was funded by the DA-PRDP was also inaugurated thru a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremonies.

Provincial Agriculture Office Assistant Department Head Jane Tumapang said the journey of the coffee satellite buying station proponent group - Bagnen Balintaugan Timpuyog Credit Cooperative (BABATICCO) - was long but still came to fruition.