The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) endorsed 3 access infrastructure projects that would benefit farming households in several barangays considered as geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in the municipalities of Bontoc and Bauko in Mountain Province during its meeting held both physically in Baguio City and virtually on 10 June, 2021.
The total project cost amounts to 37M pesos proposed under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR).
The proposed 55 lineal meter foot bridge amounting to 2.5M pesos in Barangay Tocucan, Bontoc under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program will provide access to clean and potable water to 442 households of barangays Tocucan and Caneo.
Two farm-to-market roads (FMRs) with a total cost of 34.5M pesos in barangays Sadsadan and Monamon Norte in Bauko are proposed under the FMR Development Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR). These will benefit 504 farming households with the projected increase in agricultural produce and income. Said proposed projects were approved in April 2021 by the RDC Sub-Committee on Agriculture.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey who attended in person thanked the Council and the Infrastructure Development Committee (Infracom) chaired by DPWH Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol for endorsing their proposal. The LGU commits counterpart cost and ensures maintenance of the bridge upon turn-over of OPAPP.
Both the OPAPP and DA require RDC endorsement of proposed projects for funding to ensure that these are consistent with the Cordillera Regional Development Plan (RDP) and the proponent’s investment plans.
GIDA refer to communities that are separated from mainstream society due to physical factors such as distance, weather conditions and transportation difficulties. These communities have high poverty incidence and vulnerable sectors or are recovering from situation of crisis or armed conflict.
There are 350 barangays listed as GIDA from the total of 1,176 barangays in CAR based on the 2020 GIDA list of the Department of Health. By Marissa M. Cabato
