LACUB, Abra (PIA) -- More than 70 kilometers away from the capital town of Bangued, 11 households with more than 100 settlers live in the remote village of Libsong, Guinguinabang in the municipality of Lacub. 

The residents were used to the challenges posed by the terrain, especially during the rainy season. This is aside from economic and political effects of past armed conflicts.

With the road concreting project of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), locals in Sitio Libsong can now enjoy better roads.

In an interview with Guinguinabang Punong Barangay Amado Borgonia-Magallis, he said that the upgrade of a local access road in their area has paved the way for easier transportation, improving the movement of people and goods.

“Dakkel talaga ti naitulong na daytoy nga kalsada uray no bassit gaputa dati, haan talaga nga madalanan ti lugan so tatta, kaasi ni Apo, dir-diretso idiay Sitio Libsong isu nga dakkel talaga naitulong na karo para kadagiti taga Libsong,” Magallis said.

[This road upgrade project is a big help even if it's short. Before, vehicles couldn't pass through here, thank God, now we can go directly to Sitio Libsong. So, this means a lot especially for the locals of Sitio Libsong.] 

Lacub Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Maricel Balmaceda said that during the rainy season, Libsong was always isolated due to road blockages with muddy and unpaved road conditions and landslides. She said that the road project has made access easier and faster especially during emergencies.

“Magaburan gamin dayta dalan nga mapan Libsong ken napitak isu nga uray motor marigatan. Usually, maki-coordinate kami lattan ti Barangay DRRM ta narigat ti makadanun idiay aglalo nu napigsa ti todo, isolated da, isu nga dakkel met ti naytulong na daytoy ELCAC project,” Balmaceda explained.

[The route was blocked due to landslides, and it was so muddy that even motorcycles can hardly pass. Usually, we coordinate with the Barangay DRRM council because it is difficult to reach the area especially during heavy rains. The place is usually isolated, so this ELCAC project helps a lot.] 

As farming is the main source of livelihood in the village, it is necessary to open up a paved local access road for farmers to bring their produce in the commercial district, she added. 

The upgrading of the local access road  project of Barangay Guinguinabang leading to the remote village of Libsong was funded under the Support to Barangay Development Program for the  year 2022. 

With the listed barangay-beneficiaries allotted P4 million each for SBDP projects, the barangay  residents, and officials  decided, through their Barangay Development Plan, to utilize the SBDP Fund from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the concreting of the 200-meter local access road.

Balmaceda also shared the initial plans of the local government unit to extend the stretch of the road concreting to the main village.  (CAGT - PIA CAR, Abra)