BAUKO, Mountain Province – Three barangays in Bauko which are covered by the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) now have a better road access with the inauguration of three road projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) at the Bagnen Proper Open Gym on Monday, June 19, 2023.
The inaugurated road projects were the Improvement/ Rehabilitation/ Upgrading of the 1) Bagnen Oriente – Bagnen Proper Road; 2) the Bagnen Oriente – Bagnen Proper – Balintaugan Road, and 3) the Bangen Oriente – Bagnen Proper – Balintaugan – Maket-an Road. The total cost of the three road projects amounts to P11,980,026.82.
The blessing of the said projects was officiated by Father Lawig Ngaya-an while the ribbon-cutting was led by Congress Representative Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr., together with Bauko Mayor Randolf T. Awisan, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)–Mountain Province Provincial Director Evelyn B. Trinidad, PLtCol. Bernard K. Wong, and Barangay Captains Domingo K. Bissok (Bagnen Oriente), Martin B. Langtiwan (Bagnen Proper), and Gregory G. Garcia, Sr. (Balintaugan).
Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Ray B. Fiar-od of the DILG-MP explained during the program that the completion of the three road projects is in compliance to Executive Order (EO) No. 70 which was signed by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte last 2018. According to him, EO No. 70 is the government’s whole-of-nation approach to address the issues on armed conflicts and insurgency in the country. This, he said, is the order that gave birth to the ELCAC.
“Nan original ay na identify ket Barangay Bagnen and Barangay Balintaugan. Among the 15 isna MP, nan na identify isna Bauko ket Bagnen and Balintaugan, but we had to clarify to the National Task Force ay duwa nan Bagnen. Isunga ginedwa da nin balin et ay duwa. Na cover et nan Bagnen Proper ya Bagnen Oriente,” Fiar-od added.
In his message, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., thru the commitment and support of the different Local government units and national line agencies in the province to the EO 70, many projects, programs and assistance were complete, implemented and provided to the community of Balintaugan, Bagnen Proper and Bagnen Oriente. He said that this is a manifestation that the government is dedicated to pursue peace and development for the constituents of the province.
Governor Lacwasan also highlighted that the elected officials and the community of the Balintaugan, Bagnen Proper and Bagnen Oriente made the right call in deciding to use the allocated funds for the improvement and rehabilitation of their roads.
“Ket mayat nan nangikabilan yo tay nan kalsa. Id kasin, idi obing ak, dakayu ay taga Bagnen ket id Otucan nan market yo. Nu labi pay ta panag iiskwila ket umali kayo ay menpa res-reserve sinan bus tay isisang nan bus ay menpa Baguio. Men silsilaw kayo pay ay sumang-at sina Bagnen,” he recalled.
Relative to this, PLt Col. Wong shares the same remarks as the Governor. He also said that the completion of the road projects is an indication of the government’s effort and genuine service in bringing development in the community.
Moreover, Congressman Dalog and Provincial Director Trinidad were one in reminding the respective elected officials and community members of Balintaugan, Bagnen Proper and Bagnen Oriente of their responsibility in maintenance of inaugurated roads.
Meanwhile, Board Member Johnson D. Bantog II, as the Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Human Rights, Civil Defense, and Peace and Order, appealed for the cooperation of the community members in achieving a peaceful community for the people to enjoy. According to him, the cooperation and support of the community is vital in ending the local communist armed conflict in the province. By Daryle C. Fayofay
