In Kalinga, I heard people complain about man going to the moon but “when will the road be constructed or improved so that vehicles can reach their village?”

You can hear that sentiment articulated in various ways all over the Cordillera actually. Until today, several communities do not enjoy the benefits of having a road, or if there is one, it is hardly usable. Many roads remain dangerous to life and limb.

In 2016, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reported CAR has the poorest road network in the country. It noted that in 2004 paved national roads in the Cordillera was at 29 percent. This increased to 35.5 percent in 2007 and 41.1 percent in 2009.

According to NEDA, the low number of paved roads in the region is hardly desirable. It was “well below the national average of 71 percent in 2007 and 75 percent in 2009.” CARAGA region in Mindanao, a relatively younger region than CAR, have paved national roads at 46 percent in 2007 and 58 percent in 2009.

Comparing CAR’s standing in 2009 with its neighboring regions the NEDA showed CAR’s paved roads considerably pales with that of the Ilocos region at 93 percent and Cagayan Valley’s 72 percent.

The local folks who understand how roads have transformed living conditions in other places and bear the effects of poor road conditions and the lack or absence of an efficient network of roads in their communities have become articulate in explaining the consequences of a good road to their living conditions.

Last week, in Kalinga Province, the elders of six barangays covered by the improvement of the Catabbogan-Wagud farm to market road all expressed a shared sentiment of having inherited a longing and aspiration for the realization of a project like this to connect their communities to the outside world. They were so happy it is now being realized in their time through the PRDP’s intervention.

The road runs through six barangays in the towns of Pinukpuk, Kalinga, and Conner, Apayao as follows: Catabbogan, Malagnat, Tagay, Cal-owan, Masian (all in Pinukpuk town), and Sakpil in Conner, Apayao. The road length is almost 15 kilometers. It is funded mainly by the World Bank through the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) with a 10 percent counterpart fund from the Provincial Government.

The road is envisioned to be a world class road that is expected to last twenty years, following standards set by the project.

According to the barangay captains and elders, the completion of the road will connect their production areas to markets and will save lives during emergencies.

From the capital town of Tabuk City, we reached Cal-owan barangay in one hour and 30 minutes. When the road will be completed, Dr. Lorenzo Caranguian, PRDP-CAR project director estimates that travel time can be reduced by half.

Provincial Board Member Langkit, who hails from the place noted how the six barangays were once major growers of coffee but throughout the years, shifted to corn because investors were discouraged to visit the place and invest or procure coffee beans from them. It is also difficult on the part of the farmers to bring their produce to the nearest road outlet.

In terms of input and ecosystem conservation and resilience, coffee is best fitted to the topography of the place. Corn may not be the right crop in the area, given the rugged and rolling condition of the terrain.

Engineer Domingo Bakilan, Provincial Agriculturist and PRDP Provincial Project Management head said that the Catabbogan-Wagud Road was initially a logging road used by logging corporations to plunder the forest resources in the area particularly narra trees. The poor road condition remained from what it was, a logging road then, to this day, even if they introduced canal improvements before with funds from another DA Special Project called Central Cordillera Agricultural Programme (CECAP).

This prevailing state of the Catabbogan-Wagud Road, which is popularly known to the locals as “Cal-owan Line,” had hampered the delivery of basic services to the barangays, Bakilan said, adding that even with a few minutes of rain downpour, several sections of the road becomes impassable.

In his message during the groundbreaking ceremonies, former governor Dominador Belac said that the improvement of the road has also awakened hopes for the revival of the defunct Elpidio Quirino municipality covering all barangays served by the Cal-owan logging road line. If the “defunct Elpidio Quirino Municipality would have been sustained, it may have been a means to improve living conditions in the brangays in this part of Kalinga.”

The defunct Elpidio Quirino Municipality was established in the early 60’s through an Executive Order by then President Diosdado Macapagal. However, its creation was questioned in the Senate leading to its early demise.

According to Belac, a good road will lead to the establishment of a reliable and efficient communication network, better services, increased accessibility, and ensures the establishment of more livelihood and progress for all. He added that with this road, “I am sure our younger generation of Kalinga leaders will push the revival of the defunct municipality as Cal-owan Municipality.”

In fully supporting the PRDP implementation, the provincial government led by Governor Jocel Baac and Vice Governor James Edduba looks ahead to improving the province’ coffee industry primarily that also carries with it several other benefits like improving the delivery of basic services and physical, social and economic integration.

Improving the coffee industry in Kalinga suits the province well, the province being known as a major source of Robusta and Arabica coffee. It is a crop that is well suited to the culture and aspirations of the people for increased income, better livelihood, and improved ecosystems and services under rolling and mountainous terrains.

Because of the good performance of Kalinga Province, four big multi-million PRDP projects are now on-going in the area with a total investment portfolio amounting to PhP 539, 330, 739.94. Another FMR project is also targeted for approval and implementation by the Project, later this year.

Man has undertaken numerous space missions but according to NASA, there have been only six lunar landings, all under the USA Apollo program. The first moon landing was by Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969. The last was Apollo 17, which landed on the moon on December 7, 1972.

It is one thing to complain about the conditions of the road in the Cordillera, and another when every citizen and official in the region’s six Provinces unite and stand committed to support the realization of their shared aspirations as they are doing now in Kalinga with their PRDP development projects. (Robert Domoguen, DA-PRDP CARPCO InfoACE Unit)