Following health and safety measures to prevent COVID-19 infection, a consultation with the beneficiaries for the proposed improvement of Balang-Bocao Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in barangay Eddet, Kabayan, Benguet was finally conducted on June 10, 2020.

The road project is proposed for funding under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in support to the production of coffee and white potato. These commodities are among the prioritized commodities in Benguet province supported in the implementation of the PRDP.

“Maki participate tayo, etnengan tayo no nganto ekwan sha ni hajay a consultation tep nu wara kuma eh eg tayo maevatan, iklaro tayo ta ebadeg a banag eya improvement ni hajay a kalsara. Wara pay e vehicular bridge to tapnu endaw ngo shiyay da sot dugan tayo (Let us all listen and participate in this consultation and ask for clarifications if we did not understand because this road improvement is a major development in our place. A vehicular bridge will also be constructed so that vehicles would be able to reach our place), said Eddet barangay chair Eric Postino.

The proposed subproject is a 2.5-kilometer FMR with a vehicular bridge. It has a project cost of P106 million which is expected to benefit 511 households or 850 individuals. At present, it is endorsed for the issuance of No Objection Letter 1 (NOL 1) or under review by the PRDP. A series of consultation with beneficiaries and project affected persons (PAPs) were previously held while awaiting for its approval. However, continues consultation should be conducted to reiterate the role of beneficiaries in the social and environmental aspect and in the design and implementation of the subproject.

During the consultation, technical specifications of the subproject was explained as well as the processes and the documents required by the PRDP. The proposed barangay ordinances in support to the social and environmental safeguards (SES) of the subproject were also explained by Mr. Postino. According to him, the ordinances will soon be presented to the Sangguniang Barangay of Eddet for endorsement.

Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan shared preceding events of how the proposal of the subproject came to realization and further urged the beneficiaries to support the approval and implementation of the proposed road project.

“Sala-salamat niyay ja participation jo ket sapay kuma ta ituloy-tuloy jo e suporta yo niyay ja project (Thank you for your participation and I hope that you continuously support this project), he said.

Meanwhile, another consultation was also held on June 11, 2020 for the improvement of Pula-Cawayan-Camandag FMR with bridge subproject in the municipality of Asipulo, Ifugao. The construction works for the subproject initially started in the last quarter of 2017 but was mutually terminated by the implementing unit and the contractors. At present, the subproject is undergoing repackaging in compliance with the recommendations of the PRDP.

“Since the subproject will undergo repackaging, some of the initial designs and specifications will be modified. Hence, beneficiaries should be informed with these changes through a consultation. As such, the implementing unit will also be aware of their concerns and employ necessary measures,” said Rigi May Copatan, Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR SES Officer.

Copatan further said that the conduct of these consultations were postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

“With the conduct of these consultations, we hope that the documentary requirements and compliances as regards the social and environmental aspect of these subprojects will be accomplished and hence, would facilitate the approval process,” she said. ### ELVY S. TAQUIO (CARPCO InfoACE)