TACLOBAN CITY– The residents of two villages in Calbayog City are grateful for a project funded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) that is benefiting local farmers.

The DAR regional office recently inaugurated two ‘PBBM Bridges or “Pang-Agraryomg Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka” projects in the villages of Barral and Sigo, approximately 40 minutes from the city proper.

Previous floodings destroyed the two bridges, making them impassable for vehicles and affecting the delivery of goods, particularly farmers’ products like rice.

In 2021, DAR-8 released funding for the construction of new bridges, and they were inaugurated last month led by Mayor Raymund Uy and DAR Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu.

“Before this bridge was completed, we had a hard time delivering farm produce, especially when it was flooding. We couldn’t cross to the other side because the bridge was submerged,” said Roque Meronio, 52, of Barangay Barral.

Now, even trucks can reach their interior village, facilitating the transport of construction materials for road projects connecting the city to Bobon in Northern Samar province, he added.

At least seven other villages, including Roxas 2, the city’s rice granary, will also benefit from the completion of these two bridges, according to Dick Torrijas, Agrarian Reform Program Office 1 development facilitator.

Torrijas noted that the previous bridge was only one lane wide, and during floods, vehicles had to be ferried across by a “balsa” to reach the other side.

“These bridges are helpful for us development facilitators because we can reach our clients easily, even during floods,” Torrijas shared.

During President Ferdinand Marcos’ visit to Tacloban City on Monday(May 20), where he led the distribution of certificates of land ownership wward (CLOA), he also turned over the completed bridge project to Mayor Uy.

The Barral Bridge cost P13.447 million, while the Sigo Bridge cost P10.620 million, benefiting more than 8,000 residents from nine villages, including 1,126 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Aside from facilitating the transport of goods, these two bridges also aid in delivering government services and responding to calamities and disasters, according to Mayor Uy.
“We are thankful to the President for these projects,” Mayor Uy said.

He added that the bridges would also help address the insurgency problem affecting some villages in the area.

The mayor mentioned that they have requested DAR to fund the construction of three additional bridges in the villages of Palanas, Patong, and Mawacat. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY—During his visit to this city on Monday (May 20), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured that the national government is always prepared for any eventualities, whether it be El Niño or the looming La Niña.

He said that while such events have become almost normal, the government is always ready. However, he emphasized that the long-term solution lies in flood control.

“The preparation involves improving flood control systems, converting them to irrigation, and storing water so that during droughts, like the current situation, we have a source of water,” Pres. Marcos explained.

The President also mentioned that preparations are in place and ongoing.

“There’s no need to do anything special. We are already doing everything that we can to prepare for another El Niño and the La Niña that we are anticipating will come,” he stated.
The President was in the city to lead in the distribution of land titles to more than 5,400 farmers coming from various parts of the region as well as support facilities.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY—Sta. Margarita town in Samar province is the latest municipality to be declared as having Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.

The declaration was made on Thursday (May 16) by the 43rd Infantry Battalion and the 803rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, led by Mayor Felix Panganoron.

The event was attended by Vice Governor Arnold Tan, 802nd Brigade Commander BGen Efren Morados, LtCol Nasser Do Arojo, and Samar Police Provincial Office Deputy Director for Operation LtCol Edwin Barbosa.

The town received the SIPS status due to the absence of recorded non-violent activities and sightings of the New People’s Army for over a year, successful local peace engagements, and the surrender and disaffiliation of former rebel members and supporters from the armed struggle.

“May this declaration pave the way for creating a conducive environment filled with opportunities for further growth and development in the municipality,” said LtCol Arojo in his message.

He expressed confidence that any attempts at local terrorism resurgence would be severely rejected, with the delivery of government programs and services remaining a top priority.

Mayor Panganoron emphasized the importance of maintaining the peace achieved with the help of uniformed forces and other government agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“The declaration of SIPS is not the end of our journey but the beginning of a new chapter. Let us continue to work together, support one another, and strive for continuous improvement,” he added.

Sta. Margarita is the third municipality in Samar province to be granted SIPS status, joining Tarangnan and Pagsanghan.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)