DAVAO ORIENTAL— The newly concrete-paved road in Barangay Don Salvador Lopez in the City of Mati is poised to improve residents’ access to government services while helping maintain peace in the community.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who led the turn-over ceremony of the 2.4-kilometer road on February 7, said that the newly paved road will enable the government to easily deliver its services to the communities.
Funded under the Conditional Matching Grant to the Provinces (CMGP), the road project that has been turned over is only the first phase of the road upgrading from National Highway Junction of Sitio Tambon, Don Salvador to Sta. Cruz, Cangusan with a total length of 12.8 kilometers amounting to a total of P23.834 million. Aside from the road concreting, the project also includes the construction of line canal, culvert, and grouted riprap.
OIC Provincial Engineer Ruel Dumadag said that this road section is “among the local road networks that connects the neighboring municipalities of Lupon and Manay to the City of Mati through an interconnecting road to the barangays.” He said that this road section leads to the hinterland community of Sitio Tiombocan in Lupon town by traversing Sitio Paypay road. This same road also connects to Sitio Calinawan, Manay via Sitio Paypay to Tagbinonga road. Meanwhile, Sitio Paypay to Tagbinonga road can be used as an alternate route going to Poblacion, City of Mati instead of taking the national highway.
Engr. Dumadag said that the Provincial Government has now started with the road works connecting this road section. He further noted that the one-lane portion of Sitio Tambon road is an on-going project of the Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
With the new road, Governor Dayanghirang encouraged farmers to plant more, as their road is now improved, giving them ease in transporting their goods and products to the market. He also hopes that the new infrastructure project will strengthen the province’s campaign for peace.
“We always give priority in upgrading roads in the hinterland areas as a way to address peace and order issues. Lack of roads is usually one of the reasons why there is insurgency and we all know that development can never be achieved if insurgency is present. That is why we are constructing farm-to-market roads so that there will be no more reasons for our brothers and sisters to get involve in the armed group,” Gov. Dayanghirang said.
As the recipient barangay has also received its multipurpose hall recently, village chief Ben Rio Miones, expressed his utmost thanks to the Governor. “We don’t have anything worthy to give you but our prayers that may you live longer so that more barangays will benefit from your good public service,” he said.
Also gracing the event was the Commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Major General Reuben Basiao, who witnessed the transformation of the said barangay from a conflict-affected area to a peaceful community when he served as the 701st Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army based in the province around two years ago. Also, in attendance during the activity was the current Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Manuel V. Sequitin. By Riza M. Golez/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
