The Provincial Government of La Union, together with the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO 1), resolved the first social and environmental safeguard (SES) issue in the implementation of the Rehabilitation of Balecbec-Basca Farm to Market Road in the municipalities of Naguilian and Aringay, La Union.

Mr. Walter Dumo, a resident of Barangay Balecbec in Naguilian, La Union raised an issue regarding the design of the Balecbec-Basca FMR after the as-stake survey. Based on the said design, a drainage will be placed around 600 meters from the Balecbec River. This drainage is along the rice field that Mr. Dumo cultivates. It will dump rain water onto his rice field. The dumping of rain water will render Mr. Dumo’s land unproductive. It may wash away his crops and reduce the fertility of his soil.

To resolve the issue, RPCO 1 SES Specialist Romel Tejano presided a consultation meeting on September 9, 2016 held in a covered court at Balecbec Elementary School. The consultation was attended by the Balecbec Barangay Council, the Project Engineer of the Goldrich Construction and Trading, and the La Union Provincial Engineers.

During the consultation, La Union Provincial Engr. Frederick Atijera recommended for another variation order in the design of the FMR to resolve the issue. Instead of constructing a drainage along the rice field of Mr. Dumo, the 600 meter-stretch after the Balecbec Bridge will feature a wider drainage and concreted shoulders. The wider drainage will catch the rain water from the 600-meter stretch and dump directly to the river.

The recommendation, however, will be subject to the approval of the cluster and national support offices as it will affect the funding of the subproject.

Other issues were also resolved during the consultation like the cutting of trees. The RPCO 1 SES and the La Union Provincial Engineering Office with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist re-assured the community on the provision of seedlings to replace the trees cut. Barangay Chairman Willy Corpuz was tasked to list down the request for seedlings. The group also suggested for the Barangay to schedule a tree planting activity.

Aside from the above-mentioned issues, the residents of Barangay Balecbec also complained about the muddy condition of the road. As the earthworks are still in progress and with the detrimental weather condition, it became extra difficult for the residents to pass through the road.

The RPCO 1 and the Province of La Union pleaded with the residents for extra patience as the circumstances are necessary for the rehabilitation of the road. Mr. Tejano asked the residents to look forward to a better road in the coming days. The Balecbec-Basca FMR is expected to start concreting in November 2016.

The Rehabilitation of the Balecbec-Basca FMR is the pilot subproject of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in La Union. The packaging and preparation of its proposal lasted about two years, and both the residents of Barangays Balecbec and Basca and the Province of La Union look forward to the completion of the subproject. (Ilocos InfoACE)