BAGUIO CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government – Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) announced the completion of 29 infrastructure projects amounting to ₱132,137,643.20 funded through the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) for Fiscal Year 2023.
The SBDP is the flagship program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) aimed at delivering basic services to conflict-affected barangays whose development have been hampered by insurgency.
Spanning 20 barangays across 11 municipalities in the provinces of Abra, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, the completed projects reflect NTF-ELCAC’s unwavering commitment to addressing the region’s developmental needs. These projects, which include nine (9) farm-to-market roads, seven (7) school buildings, six (6) health stations, four (4) water sanitation systems, and three (3) rural electrification projects, are aimed at empowering communities, uplifting lives, and supporting sustainable peace and development in the areas.
Eleven barangays in Abra, three (3) in Kalinga, and six (6) in Mountain Province have directly benefited from these projects, serving a total of around 17,224 residents.
DILG-CAR Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose emphasized the significance of this accomplishment, stating, “The completion of these projects is a concrete manifestation of the administration’s steadfast commitment to delivering meaningful and impactful initiatives that prioritize the welfare and future of our barangays.”
RD San Jose shared that these projects have notably impacted the beneficiary communities. The farm-to-market roads have opened new economic opportunities, allowing farmers to efficiently transport their produce to markets. Meanwhile, the school buildings have provided a safe and conducive learning environment for students. Health stations have made healthcare services closer to residents, and water sanitation systems have addressed long-standing issues on access to clean and potable water.
In Lacub, Abra, elementary pupils have already begun using the SBDP-funded school building. “Marigatan kami unay idi ta agkurkurang ti building ti eskwelaanmi. Dakkel nga tulong daytoy a proyekto haan laeng nga kenyami nga teachers ngem kangrunaan dagitoy eestudyante tapnu maipaay ti conducive learning kadagiti uubbing ken maideliver mi met ti quality education kinyada,” shared Joy P. Daodaoen, Teacher III of Lan-Ag Elementary School. (“Our school community has been greatly affected by the lack of school buildings. This project is a big help, not only for us teachers, but most importantly for the students, as it will provide them with a more conducive learning environment and enable us to deliver quality education to them.”)
The completion of these projects underscores the NTF-ELCAC’s continued efforts to implement impactful programs through the whole-of-nation approach. It highlights the government’s commitment to promoting sustained peace, economic growth, and community resilience in the Cordilleras, particularly in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
Further, RD San Jose reiterated the Department’s steadfast commitment to sound infrastructure governance. “These projects were not only designed to meet the immediate needs of our communities, but we also ensured that each project adhered to the standards of quality and sustainability. We are dedicated to ensuring that every infrastructure project, whether big or small, is implemented with integrity and transparency,” she said.
With the completion of the FY 2023 SBDP projects, the DILG-CAR is bent on monitoring 111 SBDP projects totaling PHP 340 million that were implemented in FY 2024 across 54 barangays in 17 municipalities in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. By Fernando Pre
