CARAGA, DAVAO ORIENTAL – Locals of three villages here in Caraga town have vowed  support on the proposed construction of a P59 million PSCG Bridge here, saying this big-ticket project will surely create a huge impact over the lives of their constituents.

Barangay officials of the three beneficiary villages, namely:  Lamiawan, Pichon and San Antonio which will directly benefit from the project, strongly expressed their endorsement on the proposed project during the recently held Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting here. They say this bridge will not only help in transporting their products to town but will facilitate the entry of more development in the area as well as ease access to social services.

Brgy. Lamiawan officials vow support to PRDP project.

Touted as a high-impact project to be implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), the funding will be sourced out through loan proceeds from the World Bank and counterpart funds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Provincial Government.

A project strongly pushed by the Provincial Government, the proposed bridge construction is anchored on the Provincial Government’s Development Agenda that aims to, among others, Defeat Poverty and Improve Infrastructure, Utilities and Services, said Freddie C. Bendulo, Head of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU).

Bendulo said that although the progression of the proposal took several years due to a series of ‘uncontrollable’ obstacles that hampered its implementation, which include the transition of the PRDP from its forerunner Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP), the Provincial Government and all its stakeholders are positive that the project can now be pushed through.

Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon shakes hand with a local official in Caraga town.

This proposed 75-meter bridge will be erected over the river in Barangay Lamiawan and is expected to benefit a population of more than 7,000 residents including those in the nearby villages of Pichon and San Antonio.

Considered highly-agricultural lands, the locals in these villages say the bridge will create a huge effect in their livelihood as it would facilitate the ease of transport of their agriculture products, particularly ‘first-class’ abaca-fiber which is their mainstay crop.

While the villages of Lamiawan and Pichon which are being considered as areas having the highest production of abaca fiber in the municipality, officials say that the potential for increased production could only be maximized with better roads.

According to the villagers, the main problem in their area is the absence of a concrete bridge that will ease the transportation of goods and service from one barangay to the next. The existing footbridge is only passable on foot or by motorcycles. Residents added that due to the difficult and often dangerous terrain, fares are far from being cheap.

“Better transportation infrastructure is really essential, especially in our farming communities.  It is important to note that high agricultural productivity is complemented by farmers’ ability to quickly deliver their high value goods to market,” said Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon.

The construction of Lamiawan Bridge, among all other projects implemented under the PRDP, bids to enhance value-chain and competitiveness of selected agricultural commodities. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan

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