MOUNT MAUWEY, Barlig – All roads led to this tourism site for the provincial, municipal, barangay officials, and community people to attend the inauguration of the Barlig Eagle Structure last December 21, 2022.
The monkey-eating eagle, referred to in the local vernacular as ‘lawi”, is the Philippine Eagle with scientific name Pithecophaga Jefferyi is endemic in the place.
The blessing of the structure was done by Fr. Andrew Claver and Fr. Tom, both Catholic priests. During the program, the different barangay captains of Lias and Kadaclan expressed appreciation to the governor for finally realizing the project.
No mention of a barangay as location of the site of the structure is made as it is located within a conflict area between barangays Lias and Chupac, Kadaclan, both of Barlig, Mountain Province.
But the barangay captains of Lias and Kadaclan expressed gratefulness to the governor for the project that is a culmination of a common aspiration.
Accordingly, the structure was constructed at an aggregate cost of P2.8 million but which is not yet completed as there are many additional completion works still to be implemented.
Board Members Ezra Gomez, Joshua Fronda, and Ricardo Masidong also spoke emphasizing the cooperation and support between the legislative and the executive officials of the province.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. expressed his appreciation to the legislative body and the Board members for their support to the tourism program of the governor. He also cited the tourism potential of the province as being comparable to other provinces of the country.
He visited other “touristic” provinces and stressed that the province hosts many beautiful tourism attractions too, emphasizing that tourism is one of his main thrusts of governance and priority.
After the program and before partaking of lunch, a meeting between the provincial and municipal officials was convened at the structure to tackle future concerns on the project and tasking as to roles.
The governor presided over the meeting and said that the structure is to be turned over to the municipality for the operation and maintenance with emphasis that the provincial government will help in funding the other works to be implemented in coordination with the municipal government for which the mayor accepted the tasks with the turnover document dated December 21, 2022.
The construction of a toilet was identified as an immediate concern including the installation of a water system.
Another concern is the fencing of the perimeter to prevent free entry to the structure.
Another major concern was the claimants who said that a Deed of Donation should be made for the claimants with Engr. Jacinto Wassig and Chori Chungayas to officially donate the lot on which the structure is built to the municipal government.
The meeting ended with both parties happy and full of hope for tourism resilience in the municipality and province.
Meanwhile, appreciation was also heaped on those who made and painted the eagle structure. The finishing touches were excellently done, according to some participants of the inauguration activities.
Engr. Jacinto Wassig, the contractor, was thanked by the governor for a job well done. Wassig said that the structure needs additional ground works to be completed.
