LACUB, Abra (PIA) — Seven infrastructure projects of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are now benefitting the local communities of this remote town.
These projects funded under Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) include the concreting of three access roads with a length of 200 meters and worth P4 million each, namely; Buneg Access Road, Guinguinabang Local Access Road, and Buyatan Access Road; Construction of One-storey School Building at Barangay Lan-ag-P4M, Upgrading of Lan-ag Level III Water System – P2.6M, Provision of Solar Electrification at Barangay Bacag – P4.4 M, and Construction of Classroom School Building at Barangay Poblacion – P2.5M.
The PTF-ELCAC Abra led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Abra, Abra Police Provincial Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Information Agency led the inauguration and turnover ceremony of the projects.
Lacub Mayor Nestor Bersamina acknowledged the sustainable benefits of the NTF-ELCAC programs towards lasting peace and local development.
“Dagitoy nailungalong a programa ti ELCAC ket adun ti naited na a pagsayaatan dagiti naduma-duma nga ili. Isu nga dakkel ti panagyaman mi kadakayo a nangidaulo daytoy a program ditoy ili mi,” Mayor Bersamina said.
[These programs implemented by ELCAC have been of great benefit to the different towns. We thank everyone who led this program in our town]
Lacub is a SBDP beneficiary since 2022.
Bersamina appealed to the national government to sustain the funding of more projects under ELCAC especially to the remote areas.
“Sapay kuma ta idanon ti DILG ti kangatoan nga opisina nga ituloy da ti panagited ti proyekto ti ELCAC kangrunaan kadagiti adayo a lugar ta napadasan tayo metten ti pagsayaatanna kadatayo,” Bersamina added.
[We hope that DILG will bring to the attention of the national government to continue funding projects under ELCAC especially to remote areas since we have experienced its benefits.]
Grade 12 student Aldrix Manuel of Alfredo D. Bersamina National High School said that it is challenging to study in a remote town, given the learning conditions of their school particularly classroom shortage.
“Ditoy ayanmi, agkurang kami talaga ti classroom isu nga mayat ta napili ditoy ayanmi a maikkan ti classroom manipud ELCAC,” Manuel expressed.
[We are in need of classrooms here so it’s good that our school was chosen to receive a classroom from ELCAC.]
As a student who wants to become a teacher someday, Manuel said that studying here is challenging due to limited access to facilities.
“Napateg ti panagadal gapu ta ditoy Lacub ket adayo, isu nga masapul igaed ti agadal tapnu maabot dagiti pangarap, kas kaniak nga mayat ti agbalinto a teacher,” Manuel said.
[Education is valuable especially here in our remote town, so I need to study hard to reach for my dream of becoming a teacher.]
DILG-Abra Cluster Head Mary Jane Abance congratulated Lacub LGU for successfully completing the projects that conform with standards ensuring quality and physical sustainability.
“Congratulations to the Local Government Unit of Lacub. These projects will not be successful without your leadership. Special mention also to the members of the Provincial Task Force in your participation in the monitoring of these projects that assured quality and sustainability,” Abance said. (JDP/CAGT-PIA CAR, Abra)
