In the photo are (L-R) Board Member Salvador K. Dalang, Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli, DILG-CAR Local Government Operations Officer VI Jimmy B. Pagaddut, Bagnen Proper Punong Barangay Martin B. Langtiwan, Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the P 36.4 million-worth and 1.06-kilometer road project titled, “Upgrading/ Improvement of Abatan-Bagnen Road held at Bagnen Proper last February 19, 2020. // NDRA, MP-PIO

Bontoc – True to Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr.’s State of the Province Address, more road projects funded under the Department of Interior and Local Government – Conditional Matching Grants to Provinces (DILG-CMGP) are to be implemented this year.

Gov. Lacwasan, together with the DILG and other PLGU-MP officials, led the synchronized groundbreaking of four provincial roads which are expected to be completed within a year, namely: 1. Upgrading of Abatan-Bagnen Provincial Road (P 24-M); 2. Upgrading of Ampawilen-Sadanga Provincial Road (P 24-M); 3. Upgrading of Talubin- Can-eo Provincial Road (P 24-M); and 4. Upgrading of Guinzadan-Banao- Andanum Provincial Road (P 21.7-M).

Also, the ribbon-cutting ceremony cum blessing of the P 36.4 million-worth and 1.06-kilometer road project titled, “Upgrading/ Improvement of Abatan-Bagnen Road,” under the DILG-CMGP, CY 2018 projects, was held prior to the groundbreaking rites.

The P 24 million-worth Abatan-Bagnen road project will start where the newly-blessed road stretch ended; thus, the groundbreaking ceremony and the blessing of the project being held at the said road joint.

Bagnen Parish Rector Tristan Bate-il officiated the blessing of the completed as well as those projects which are about to start. A turnover program ensued at the Bagnen Proper open gym.

In his message, Provincial Engineer Edward B. Likigan gave a brief background of the CMGP projects where he acknowledged the efforts of all concerned offices in the provincial government and the DILG for including the Provincial Government in the project grants.

“The requisites for the grant are quite stringent. Almost all offices in the Provincial Government were involved in accomplishing the necessary requirements before the projects came to be implemented; hence, the grant being conditional. We needed to comply with certain standards first,” Likigan said.

According to Likigan, the CMGP projects are in addition to the ongoing road projects under the I-BUILD component of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the projects that are being implemented by the DPWH. In the case of Bagnen, he said that the improvement of the Abatan-Bagnen road section will soon see completion with the series multi-funded road improvements happening in the area.

As a challenge, therefore, DILG-CAR Regional Office Local Government Operations Officer VI Jimmy B. Pagaddut urged the community to cooperate with the project implementers by helping in the monitoring and safeguarding of the projects and by helping convince the lot owners affected to allow the road upgrading to allow for progress and development.

On behalf of the Provincial Government, Gov. Lacwasan expressed his gratitude to the DILG for bringing more projects to Mountain Province.

“2020 is a promising year because just as one road project is completed and turned-over to the beneficiaries, another four new road projects are again to be started. The future completion of these DILG-funded projects will ensure development as it will allow improved commerce and tourism along affected areas, ” Lacwasan said.

Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli and Office of the Congressman rep Clementine Culallad who were also in attendance expressed support and solidarity with all officials in the projects and programs for development.

In response, the barangay officials asked their fellow residents to support the different road projects that are being implemented in their place. They urged their constituents to help resolve road right of way issues that may hamper the implementation of the projects and assist their officials in monitoring the projects.

Also, Vladimir Lawilao, project contractor for the Abatan-Bagnen road project and who spoke on behalf of all the contractors, committed to comply with specifications set in the program of work and on the timely implementation and completion of the road project.

Meanwhile, the Bagnen Coffee Satellite Buying Station which was funded by the DA-PRDP was also inaugurated thru a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremonies.

Per recount of the Provincial Agriculture Office Assistant Department Head Jane Tumapang, the journey of the coffee satellite buying station proponent group – Bagnen Balintaugan Timpuyog Credit Cooperative (BABATICCO) – was long but still came to fruition.

“The project has encountered many problems and was almost aborted but due to the timely intervention of Gov. Lacwasan, the project was saved and although it took time for it to be finished, it finally saw completion and can now be used by the proponents,” Tumapang said.

Furthermore, Tumapang also underscored the importance of fulfilling one’s counterpart. That while the World Bank, the DA and the Provincial Government have done their part in funding the project, the BABATICCO proponent group has its corresponding responsibilities or obligations.
“The role of proponent groups are crucial to the successful implementation of projects. They must fulfill their commitments so projects will see completion, will become functional and can be sustained,” Tumapang said.