The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in Region 1 endorsed the approval of the Construction of Jardin-Sawat Bridge in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur in its 17^th Meeting held at the 1^st Floor Conference Room, Department of Agriculture Building, San Fernando City, La Union on June 28, 2018.

Tagudin’s Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO) Fredie Vedania and Municipal Engineer Antonio Villanueva, Jr. presented the feasibility study and the detailed engineering design of the Construction of the Jardin-Sawat Bridge before the members and representatives of the RPAB.

The proposed Construction of the Jardin-Sawat Bridge measures 90 lineal meters and has an estimated project cost of Php120 million. It is targeted to benefit 4,470 people including 326 farmers who live in the covered barangays of Sawat, Pacac, Pudoc East, Pudoc West, Lantag, and Baritao. The six barangays are separated from the other barangays of the Municipality of Tagudin by the Amburayan River. At present, the existing road used by the residents in the subproject area is a spillway made of PCCP and gravel road.

Mayor Roque Versoza, Jr. of the Municipality of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur narrated how they had always wanted the construction of Jardin-Sawat Bridge. “In my nine years of service as a Mayor, I have always seen how the people need the bridge especially during rainy season. The people from the barangays get stranded whenever the river swells during typhoons. People cannot even use boats for transportation during floods because of the strong currents. When we heard of PRDP, we finally saw an opportunity to get funding for the construction of the bridge.”

The 17^th RPAB Region 1 meeting was presided by Deputy Project Director and RTD for Research and Regulations Orlando J. Lorenzana. It was attended by RPAB member Regional Agri-Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairman Vincent Adorna, RPAB representative for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Engr. Eugene Arquero, RPAB representative for Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Ms. Valeriana Mamaril, RPAB representative for Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Mr. Cezar Manuel Cabansag, RPAB representative for Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Mr. Pedro Gonzales, and RPAB representative for Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ms. Rose Quitos.

After the endorsement by the RPAB, the infrastructure proposal will be reviewed by the cluster and national project offices for the issuance of a No Objection Letter 1 (NOL). ### (Dessa U. Estrada, RPCO 1 InfoACE)