DAVAO ORIENTAL – After many years of experiencing a “drought” from government projects, residents of six barangays in the Municipality of Banaybanay say they are thankful for the recent downpour of government projects implemented by the provincial government in their community.
On September 29, 2020, the provincial government formally turned over various infrastructure projects that brought respite to the villagers.
Barangays Maputi, Panikian, San Vicente, and Calubihan have received a level three Potable Water System. Barangay Puntalinao, on the other hand, received a new covered court while Barangay Mogbongcogon received a new barangay hall.
Punong Barangay of Maputi, Ariel Sison, was overwhelmed as he shared that their community has waited 45 years for the potable water project to be realized in their barangay. He said the villagers have conveyed their gratitude to the provincial government for giving them access to water which now flows up to their household. “The people are thankful as they no longer need to fetch water from the source. We are very much grateful for this project because water is a basic human need,” he said.
Meanwhile, for the newly constructed activity center, Provincial Engineer Ruel Dumadag revealed that these projects have been designed to become disaster-resilient as per the instruction of Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang.
“The Governor was very consistent with his instruction. That is why we are constructing buildings that can withstand 200 kph typhoon, and a magnitude 8.5 tremor,” added Engr. Dumadag.
The governor purposely advised for the projects to have the certain features basing on the previous experiences of the province with disaster calamities; as remembered, the Typhoon Pablo on 2012 and the series of quakes that continued to happen in the past years.
“We learned our lessons the hard way, and painfully. Hundreds of lives were lost and millions worth of properties were partially and totally damaged. Livelihoods (of residents) were lost. People sought refuge in gymnasiums, centers and schools, but unfortunately, they collapsed and even caused majority of the casualties,” Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said.
Governor Dayanghirang also commended the punong barangays for listening to the needs of their people, hence, leading to the realization of the projects.
“Cognizant of the great need, we are trying our very best to address them,” he explained, acknowledging the punong barangays’ efforts to relay their residents’ demands.
Banaybanay Mayor Adalia Lopez also expressed her gratitude for the projects.
“This is government at work—government receptive and actively responding to our needs. All we can do is support our government, particularly, our provincial government, and the rain of projects should continue,” she furthered.
The Representative of the Second District, Cong. Joel Mayo Almario, also thanked the provincial government and promised that the downpour of projects shall continue as there is team work between the provincial government, his office, the local government units, and the barangays.
Vice-Governor Nino Sotero Uy expressed the 16th Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s all-out support to the provincial government, particularly through legislation. He stressed that the provincial government is just making true to its thrust of leaving nobody behind to live up to its goal of an inclusive government.
Punong Barangays Filipinas Cenita of Puntalinao, Glenn Paslangan of Panikian, Jimmy Coma of San Vicente, Jaime Batino of Calubihan, and Jokarnain Tambuang of Mogbongcogon were in unison in thanking Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang for all the support, resourcefulness, and persistence in finding ways to help.
The Governor appealed to the recipients to take good care of the projects.
“Please be good stewards of the projects given to you. This is your task now, as the next generation will still use these. And through the projects, they can say that the government is working for its people,” he concluded.
The ceremony was also graced by Board Members Ian Larcia, Enrico Antopuesto, Dennis Roflo, Lito Macatabog, with local and barangay officials of Banaybanay, Fr. Edito Bano who did the blessing of the projects. By Neela Duallo/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
