Bukidnon, Sep 6 – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 recently concluded two (2) Local Government Support Fund – Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) groundbreaking ceremonies in Barangay Lirongan, Talakag and Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan on September 2 and 3, respectively.
These projects are two (2) local access roads in Barangay Lirongan and improvement of farm-to-market road and construction of double barrels in Barangay Canangaan.
Lirongan and Canangaan are among the 119 barangays in northern Mindanao that each received a P20-million funding assistance from the national government’s LGSF-SBDP for the realization of their priority projects.
The identification of these projects were deliberately done by the local leaders and the community during the conduct of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
Paving the way to Lirongan
Long before the SBDP projects came to Barangay Lirongan, Talakag, the constituents experienced difficulties in accessing basic services due to the impassable road and absence of public utility vehicle.
Christian Dave Talian, a Talaandig lumad and a beneficiary of the project shared he lost his sister because of their barangays bad road condition.
He further narrated, “She (sister) should have been taken to the hospital to give birth, but because we were far away from the highway, and the road is bad, and we still need to cross a vast body of water—she gave birth at home. Her baby survived, but she did not.”
The P20-million funding was divided by the recipient barangay to two projects – a Local Access Road in Sitio Pawagaon amounting to P13-million and another in Sitio Kaulayanan worth P7-million.
According to DILG Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe, the SBDP projects are the fulfillment of the current administration’s promise that no community should be left falling behind in development, especially those areas that were once under the influence of the communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) but are now cleared from insurgency and ready to accept the help of the government.
“Kini katumanan sa saad sa atoang national government, mga kongresista, municipal ug city governments ug sa atong mga lalawigan nga ang tanan mga barangay atong dal-on sa mas luwas, mas malinawon, ug mas malambuon nga kaugmaon (This is in fulfillment of the promise of the national government, congress, municipal, city and provincial governments in ensuring that all barangays will be brought to a much safer, peaceful, and progressive future),” he said.
The project’s mode of implementation is by contract and it is estimated to be finished within 90 calendar days, which also includes a 26 calendar-day allowance for delays caused by rain.
Meanwhile, National Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Director Monico Batle emphasized that the implementation of these projects will not only have an effect on the beneficiary barangay, but all other barangays as well.
“The construction of these local access roads under the SBDP will pave the way for greater economic progress, lasting peace, and community resiliency against the CTGs,” he added.
It is in Barangay Lirongan where the first SBDP project groundbreaking in the region was launched.
637 households in Cabanglasan to begin life anew
In Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, 637 households (3,728 residents) will receive the services that they have longed for, namely: two (2) water supply systems, three (3) multi-purpose drying pavements, one (1) assistance to farmers, one (1) health station, and one (1) local access road, made possible through the SBDP of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In the municipality, Barangay Canangaan is one of the two barangays already declared insurgency free.
Director Agabe, in his message, stated that the administration of President Duterte will always look out for the welfare of the people. For this reason, he urged all leftist to join the multitude and unite so that everyone will cross the path to development and peace in the country altogether.
In addition, RD Agabe explained that ELCAC is the higher functionaries’ initiative to unite every mechanism of the government to stop the elements that launched an armed struggle against the administration.
Further, Cabanglasan Municipal Mayor Renante V. Inocando explained how important these projects to his people and asked the oppositions to support the initiative of the national government.
“Through this program, the barangays that we call less fortunate become a priority […] these barangays are small, poor, and almost a large percentage here are indigenous people. We will show them that our government is really sincere in addressing their concerns and needs. I hope that the people will see these efforts, especially our leaders in the senate and congress on how important these projects to places like the Municipality of Cabanglasan that really needs help from the government.”
In attendance were representatives from the Governor’s Office of Bukidnon, Congresswoman Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Municipal Mayors of Talakag and Cabanglasan, DILG 10 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe, NTF-ELCAC Representative Monico Batle, Commander of Philippine Army 403rd Infantry Bridgade BGen. Ferdinand T. Barandon, Philippine National Police (PNP), Punong Barangays, and the SBDP barangay beneficiaries.
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The construction and implementation of these projects, through the LGSF-SBDP, will give the beneficiaries of Lirongan and Canangaan the convenience and support that they have been hoping for—many years, wherein throughout the years they were just only fed with false hopes and promise of peace and development.
(DILG 10/PDMU/Merryane Rose S. Bacud)(Revised copy/DILG-10/Jia Artajo)
