MANKAYAN, Benguet – The municipal government lauded the residents of the town’s twelve barangays for continuously observing the practice of ‘bayanihan,’ an age-old Filipino virtue, during difficult times, especially with the onslaught of the monsoon rains where a number of roads had been closed due to landslides.
Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong stated that reports have reached his office that residents of Payeo, Bedbed pooled their resources to clear the road leading to their place from a landslide caused by the heavy rains due to the monsoon rains.
Further, he added that pocket miners assisted the personnel and equipment of the municipal government in the clearing of the landslide that totally closed the road leading to Taneg and its outlying sitios.
The local chief executive claimed that the small-scale miners pursued the clearing operations of the aforesaid road themselves with their own equipment when landslides occurred as a result of the continuous heavy downpour.
The municipal mayor admitted that the voluntary efforts of concerned residents and barangay officials in helping clear the roads leading to their places from the landslides is a big boost in making sure that local and national roads leading to the various parts of the municipality remain open amidst the continuous heavy downpour triggered by the southwest monsoon.
According to him, voluntarism is one of the proven Filipino virtues is practiced regularly by the people of the municipality which is an inspiration to be working with citizens that have the instinct to render service during difficult times.
He urged residents and sectors to continue such best practice during this period of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to be passed on to the next generations.
Mayor Ayong pointed out that much could be done in effectively and efficiently addressing the problems of the communities if residents cooperate with government agencies and the local government in dealing with situations that confront them.
He emphasized that residents instinctively volunteer their services during difficult situations because they understand the importance of having their places accessible at all times so as not to interrupt the timely delivery of goods and services in and out of the municipality to prevent them from being isolated for a long period of time.
During this week-long monsoon rains, the mayor disclosed there were few landslide incidents reported to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office which were immediately acted upon by concerned residents and barangay officials that prevented the unnecessary closure of roads. By HENT
