Bauko, Mountain Province – With the numerous road projects being implemented by the Provincial Government all over the province, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. expressed optimism that the economic development aspired for by farmers, mainly through the improvement, upgrading and completion of road networks in the province, will be realized.
The Provincial Government of Mountain Province and the Department of Local and Interior Government-Mountain Province Provincial Office represented by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and Edison L. Baddal, respectively, turned over the newly completed road project titled “Improvement of Sadsadan-Balicanao-Salin Provincial Road” to the officials and residents of Bauko in Sitio Balicanao, Sadsadan, Bauko last November 23, 2017.
The 186-meter concreted road was funded from the 2016 Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) from DILG in the amount of Four Million Pesos (4M). The PCF is only granted to local government units that are awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).
It could be recalled that in 2016, the Mountain Province Local Government Unit (MPLGU) was one of the 43 out of 81 provincial LGUs that were assessed nationwide and was also one among the three PLGU awardees in CAR: Benguet, Kalinga and Mtn. Province.
This 2017, the MPLGU is again an awardee of the SGLG. It is among the 36 out of 81 PLGUs nationwide and one among the two passers in CAR under the Provincial LGU category.
“Given the award which we will be receiving at the Manila Hotel on November 27, it can be surmised that Mountain Province LGU is performing. It is able to meet the standards set by the national government despite the latter’s scaled up assessment tool,” Lacwasan said.
As the gov had been enunciating in his past messages, the award will further usher development to the province.
“I would like to congratulate all of us, the provincial government offices, our partner agencies and other institutions, our municipal and barangay officials, for the realization of our aspirations– the construction of farm-to-market and provincial roads which shall surely speed up economic development in our province.
I could not have done it alone. The Provincial Government couldn’t have done it alone. But with the help of all stakeholders, we were able to meet the standards of the DILG National Office; thereby, qualifying us to avail of some financial assistance,” Gov. Lacwasan said.
Meanwhile, the groundbreaking of the project, “Improvement/ Upgrading of Sinto-Pactil-Boga Road,” worth Php 79, 000, 000.00 availed of by the MPLGU from DILG’s KALSADA (Konkreto at Ayos na LanSAngan DAan tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran) Program and now called the Conditional Matching Grant to the Provinces (CMGP) at Pactil, Monamon Sur, Bauko ensued.
Noteworthy is that Mountain Province LGU is again one of the 28 provincial LGUs in the entire country that were able to meet the criteria this 2017. According to Gov. Lacwasan, this would again mean more high impact projects which shall consequently benefit the people of Mountain Province, especially those at the countryside.
The rites included the blessing cum time-capsule laying at the project site. Rev. Fr. Mark L. Cabang officiated the brief ceremony. This was followed by a program held in Pactil, Monamon Sur which was attended by the PLGU authorities led by Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., DILG rep Edison L. Baddal, Bauko LGU Councilors Mario Gaoken, Ashley Sili and Susan Awisan; Barangay Chairmen of Upper Bauko namely: Agustin C. Yaos, Samenio D. Bosoen, Mario G. Daganos, Eduardo D. Awasen and Milton K. Malinias; other Upper Bauko barangay officials, the community and by the Project Manager Vladimere Lawilao.
Vice Gov. Francis O. Tauli in his usual chant supported the claim of Gov. Lacwasan that the implementation of projects in the province is fast because of the harmonious relationship between the chief executive and the legislative body, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Provincial Project and Development Officer Lily Rose T. Kollin gave the overview of the CMGP. According to her, the province is lucky to have met the requisites for the grant. Among those she mentioned was the existence of an access road for agriculture and tourism. Her pronouncement was supported by DILG’s rep Edison L. Baddal who said that among the criteria are: there must be the existence of a provincial road; the road must generally be unrehabilitated/ upgraded; must cater to many beneficiaries living along the area traversed by the road; and consequently, the road must improve the quality of life of the people it shall serve.
The municipal officials, as well as the barangay officials of Upper Bauko, expressed their profound gratitude to Gov. Lacwasan and to the Provincial Government for the fast development that is happening in their area.
According to Councilors Gaoken, Sili and Awisan, the people of Bauko are so blessed. They also expressed their high hopes that more projects will be implemented in Bauko to further usher development, especially to the farm lands.
“The roads are now of greatest help to our farmers as one major problem is how to transport their products to the market and how to bring in garden supplies at a lower cost. I am so happy for our fellow farmers and gardeners now,” Councilor Awisan said.
She shared on how her family heartbreakingly decided to part with a parcel of lot they used to till for vegetables. They were so hard up with the rising cost of supplies, labor and transportation due to the low market value of vegetables. It was a hard decision, she said, but they had to let go for it was a losing business then.
According to Monamon Sir Barangay Chairman Mario G. Daganos, the roads are what they have been dreaming of and aspiring for for quite a long time, even to as early as the 1970s when the only kind of vehicles that had crossed their rugged roads were the “six-by-six trucks and then the Ford Fieras and Elf trucks as years went by. These days, he said, tourists in SUVs can visit their gardens.
Also, the municipal local officials of Bauko and barangay officials of Upper Bauko expressed their overwhelming gratitude for the projects.
“It is our first time to be the beneficiaries of a P79M-worth provincial road project,” they said.
Mount Data Barangay Chairman Eduardo D. Awasen also lauded Gov. Lacwasan for being true to his long time advocacy of “Barangay Muna.” According to Awasen, Gov Lacwasan’s advocacy of prioritizing the barangay dates back to the 1980s when the governor was still the Punong Barangay of Otucan and also during his term as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.
The Bauko officials were also one in saying that there can be no progress and development without the unity and cooperation of everyone. With this, they assured the PLGU officials of their cooperation during the implementation of the project.
In his commitment, Project Manager Lawilao promised to finish the project on or before its expected date of completion and for the project to meet the specifications contained in the program of work. The contractor/supplier for the P79M-worth project is the Kuatako Construction and General Contractor-Mountain Province Horizon Builders’ Joint Venture. The project is expected to complete 4,615 meters of concrete access road.** MP-PIO
