SAGADA, Mountain Province – A local businessman and a landowner in the locality donated to the municipal government a huge portion of his property located along the Suyo-Balili road for public use.
Henry Bastian, proprietor of the Montana Inn, ceded to the municipal government almost half of his 3,000-square meter property in the disputed area between barangays Suyo and Taccong to serve as the area where an open gymnasium will be constructed with the funds coming from the national government.
“My family wants to provide a substantial contribution to the development of our barangay and our municipality that is why we decided to donate a portion of our property for public use,” Bastian stressed.
The local trader disclosed he was able to win the bid for the construction of the open gymnasium which had a project cost of P40 million through a competitive bidding conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways – First Mountain Province District Engineering Office (DPWH-FMDEO) and is now on the process of leveling the area where the public gymnasium will be erected.
According to him, the donation of a portion of his property in the area is a gesture in good faith with a clear intention of helping provide an area where people could converge to hold their community gatherings.
Bastian explained that he should not be blamed if the donated property is located near his establishment because the open gymnasium that will be erected in the area will be open for the use of all sectors of the community without being restrained by whoever considering that the property was already ceded to the local government.
While it is true that the property is situated in a disputed area between Barangays Suyo and Taccong, Bastian expressed optimism that there will be no discrimination on who will be allowed to use the to-be constructed open gym provided all users of the government property will comply with existing rules and regulations to be crafted by the local government for the use of the structure.
He claimed that the donation of his property should serve as an example for other landed residents in the town to consider helping the local government have available lands where development projects could be constructed for the benefit of the people.
Bastian stated that once the leveling activities of the property will be completed, he will be mobilizing the needed equipment and human resources to start the construction so that the people can start benefiting from the use of the government facility once it will be turned over to the government when completed.
Bastian, an aspirant for a seat in the provincial board during the upcoming May 2019 mid-term elections, called on various sectors of the Sagada community to support the put up of the open gymnasium on the ceded property so that there will be available government facilities where public gatherings could be conducted to strengthen the bond among the indigenous peoples in the place.
By HENT
Salamat, Mr Henry Bastian. Ado nan ma-itulong to nan gymnasium no maltpas para isnan sitio Taccong ya Suyo. Dakkel gedan nan ma-itulong nanto isnan promotion of tourism isnan lugar tako. May your tribe increase.