BALABALAN, Kalinga (PIA) — Two vital infrastructure projects in the remote village of Poswoy, Balbalan start construction marking another milestone in the government’s efforts to address the root cause of insurgency and sustain lasting peace in far-flung communities in Kalinga.
Funded under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or PAMANA Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the P85-million bridge and P4.8-million road construction projects are expected to uplift the lives of the people of Poswoy and its neighboring villages of Ab-abaan, Balantoy, and Dao-angan. When completed, the projects will significantly improve access to essential government facilities including hospitals, offices, and schools. It will also bring socio-economic opportunities, facilitating the transport of the communities’ agricultural produce to markets.
“With the construction of the bridge at Poswoy, we expect the situation here to dramatically change. This bridge will not only connect the barangay to neighboring areas but will also foster trust and cooperation between the government and the people of Balbalan and Kalinga as a whole,” OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. stated in his message read by OPAPRU Executive Director Cesar D. De Mesa during the groundbreaking ceremony on August 6, 2024.
“These road and bridge projects should not only be seen as infrastructure facilities; they are symbols of renewed partnership between the national and local government and the people which will foster a new era of engagement, progress, and development,” the official said.
Gov. James S. Edduba who also chairs the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), hailed the projects as results of convergence of government agencies to bring services closer to the people.
“This is what we have been campaigning and at least nakita niyo ito na ang bunga ng pagsuporta natin, lahat tayo nag-effort, from the national government [to the local governments],” Edduba said.
He called for continued support for the government’s anti-insurgency campaign to sustain development initiatives.
“Noong 1980’s, nuong malakas ang insurgency dito, walang mga ganitong projects na nakakarating dito. Ngayong may peace and order na, nakarating na dito ang mga ganitong projects,” Edduba said.
“Let us support our government kasi ngayon naman ay nakikita at nararamdaman niyo naman na ang malasakit at serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating lahat,” he urged.
Residents of Barangay Poswoy expressed their happiness to see these long-awaited projects starting to become a reality. With only a hanging bridge connecting Poswoy to town centers, 71-year-old resident Venancio Anniban looks forward to the progress that a new vehicular bridge will bring to their barangay.
“Nu magapu ka Poswoy, magmana kami mapan diay munisipyo wennu diay ospital, awawiten mi diay masakit. Uray diay produkto mi, ipagpagna mi inggana diay market,” Anniban shared.
[From Posway, we walk going to the municipal hall or the hospital carrying the sick. We also carry our products to the market.]
“Malag-anan nak ta ada ti rangtay mi nga maaramiden tapnu rumang-ay met ti Barangay Poswoy,” the grandfather said.
[I am happy that a bridge will be constructed so that barangay Poswoy will also progress.]
Sixty-year-old Fely Bautista shared that travel has always been a struggle ever since she was a little girl. With the construction of the bridge and road, she envisions a life where they no longer have to walk for hours. “
Permi nga ragsak mi. Makapan tun dagiyay lugan idiay Poswoy. Malaku min tu met dagiyay produkto mi,” she said.
[We are so happy that vehicles will soon reach Poswoy. We can also sell our products.] (IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
