By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
If we are to measure one’s achievement as a politician by the roads he caused to be finished, the late Congressman Maximo Dalog would be the best in Mountain Province.
It was during his time that the Mt. Data to Bontoc was widened and became two lane and fully cemented. If you had been there before, it appeared that achieving this on those narrow mountain roads was an impossible dream.
Then I had to go to Bontoc for a case I had already forgotten and I was shocked to see that the impossible dream was done. Even the narrow portions like the one that goes through the middle of the community with houses on both sides in Alab, Bontoc got me wide-eyed. There it was, widened and concreted.
The parts that go through the rock cliffs of Mt. Data were blasted so the road could accommodate two vehicles at the same time.
So I was able to drive from Bontoc to Baguio in three hours. This is easy now. Back then when the Halsema was rough like a dry river bed, thus earning the monicker “abortion road” and later “suicide road”, from Camp Dangwa all the way to anywhere beyond, the only one who could do that was Boy Singson of Bontoc in his classic Volkswagon Beetle. Of course he was crazy and the Volkswagon Beetle’s engineering was such that it could take the curves easily and the punishment of running fast on a dry river bed of a road. What with its torsion bars and independent suspension systems all over with swinging axles at the rear.
But back to Congressman Dalog. It was also during his time that the Dantay, Bontoc to Sagada and Besao road was widened and concreted. When we drove up there summer of last year, it was something to appreciate out loud for I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.
How about the Bontoc to Banaue, Ifugao road? It was just as bad and as narrow before. But from what I heard, now it is also two-lane and fully concreted.
Towards Kalinga, it is the same. From very narrow and rough like the rest, to wide and fully concreted.
Then there was the Maba-ay to Abatan, Bauko road. Just like the other roads earlier mentioned, it could tear to pieces a poorly engineered vehicle. Now it is a two-lane concrete highway.
The Philippine’s longest bridge (taking 30 years to be finished), the Aloleng Bridge was also finished during his time. So one can pass through Tadian, then to Cervantes and Tagudin, Ilocos Sur to reach Baguio from Mountain Province. They say, the time involved would be the same as if you have taken the Halsema Highway.
I am not even mentioning roads in the eastern parts of the province as I have never been there.
Congressman Dalog also did a very good work in the Congress. He caused the passage of so many laws to benefit his constituents. It is just too bad, his time came before the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College became a university. But at least he started the ball rolling and soon, his desire will come true.
Then there is the vast improvement of the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital at Abatan, Bauko. It has now a dialysis center thereby unburdening those who have to undergo such life-saving medical process. They don’t have to come to Baguio or go to Manila anymore.
With his long years in public service, he has done a lot more for his people, perhaps too many for this small corner.
Surely, he will be missed. His imposing mestizo looks in full Igorot regalia would not anymore be gracing the Lang-ay parade henceforth. But, as God planned, everything happens for the best. **
