CABADBARAN CITY – Members of the Mamanwa and Manobo tribes here in Sitio Lusong, this city, no longer have to walk for hours under the scorching heat of the sun to reach the main roads, transport their produce to markets and access essential government services.

This, after the Office the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over and inaugurated Php 1.4 billion worth of PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program infrastructure projects in Brgy. Puting Bato here on Friday, July 28.

The amount covers 11 PAMANA projects for the four provinces of the CARAGA region, consisting of roads and bridges that connect far-flung areas to the main roads.

The ceremonial turn-over was led by Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Amante and DPWH Region XIII Assistant Regional Director Alex Ramos.

‘Life-changing’ roads

Datu Geronimo Agda, Manobo tribal chieftain, said the bridge in Sitio Lusong, which was among the 11 PAMANA projects turned over to their community, has been “life changing” in many ways.

According to Agda, their produce can now be easily transported from their farms to the town market in less than 20 minutes. This is a big relief considering the usual three-hour walk they used to endure for many years.

“Sa una, ‘yung di pa napapatayo ‘yang tulay sa amin, lahat ng taga rito nahihirapan idala ang kanilang produkto sa bayan. Kasi nahihirapan sila tumawid dito sa ilog, lalo na pag maulan. Lalo na ‘yung mga estudyante, nahihirapan tumawid sa ilog pumunta sa eskwelahan,” Agda shared.

(Back then when there were still no concrete roads and bridges here, it was very difficult for us to bring our farm products to the town market especially during the rainy season. The children could not cross the river going to the schools.)

“Pero mula nang dumating ang tulay na ito, medyo gumaan at nabago na ang aming pamumuhay. Kasi mas mabilis na namin madadala ang aming mga produkto. Kahit anong produkto ay madadala na sa bayan dahil makakadaan na ang motor at sasakyan,” he added.

(But when the bridge was constructed, our lives have become easier and better because we can now easily transport our products to the market now that we can access the roads using motorcycles and vehicles.)

According to the chieftain, the main produce farmers bring to the town market are vegetables and copra. They would usually carry the products on their backs and walk for three to four hours to reach the poblacion.

The PAMANA infrastructure projects consisted of two farm-to-market roads, five roads with bridges, two roads, and one road rehabilitation located in the four provinces of Caraga region.

No place too far

Launched in 2011, the PAMANA Program is a priority program of the national government that supports the peace negotiation track and contributes to the goal of attaining a just and lasting peace in the country.

The program aims to contribute to addressing issues of injustices and improve community access to socio-economic interventions; improve governance by building the capacity of national government agencies and local government units for a conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting, culture-sensitive and gender-sensitive approach to human rights promotion and development; and empower communities and strengthen their capacities to address issues of conflict and peace.

In her message during the turn over, Gov. Angel Amante said she is ‘extremely grateful’ that the program largely benefitted residents in the far-flung areas of Agusan del Norte.

“The presence of the presidential peace adviser, personally joining us here here today as well as the other agencies coming to this sitio, the most far flung sitio in Cabadbaran, only shows that no place is too far for a government that is determined to address the very root cause of insurgency and help uplift the lives of those in the conflict-vulnerable areas,” Amante said.

“Now it is more evident that it’s the government who can genuinely help us and address our concerns, and not those groups who knock on our doors and introduce contrastive ideologies. We should believe the one that is right here in front of us,” Amante told residents in the local dialect.

DPWH Region XIII Assistant Regional Director Alex Ramos also assured the residents of the agency’s continuous support to the infrastructure projects in the region.

“The DPWH is always ready to assist you in the development not only in this sitio but in the whole Caraga as well, we will—- always be there when you need our services,” Ramos said.

He noted that all PAMANA projects were successfully carried out due to the strong partnership between local government units and the OPAPRU.

For his part, Galvez told the residents of Brgy. Puting Bato that he has soft spot in the area. He said he survived days of ordeal after he and roughly 190 of his fellow Scout Rangers lost in the deep jungle of Agusan in 1985. He said they were operating in the area against the communist rebel group.

He said they were rescued by a tribal chieftain who for days assisted the troops out of the woods.

Agusan has been a bedrock of insurgent groups, which for years has been gradually dismantled, Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said.

“This only shows that the sucess is already within reach. Because of these road projects, the peace and order will surely be sustained. The Sitio Lusong can now be accessed easier, mas madali na pag byahe ninyo papunta sa ciudad, sa bayan kaya kami bilang inyong partner sa kapayapaan, we will support in whatever way we can ang pag asenso ng inyong lugar at ng Agusan del Norte, protektahan ninyo itong mga proyekto at gamitin sa kabutihan at huwag sa kasamaan. Cuerpo said.

Sec Galvez said that nobody will be left behind in the peacebuilding and development process under the Marcos administration, as the national government is determined to sustain the gains of peace in the CARAGA region.

“May kasabihan po tayo na ang insurhensiya ay nagtatapos kung saan nagsisimula ang kalsada. Buong-puso po akong sumasang-ayon dito. Ang aming ahensya, ang Office Of The Presidential Adviser On Peace, Reconciliation and Unity o OPAPRU, sa pamamagitan ng PAMANA program, kasama ang DPWH at iba pang peace partners nito, ay patuloy na nagsasagawa ng mga proyektong imprastraktura sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa,” Galvez said.

“Nagagalak kaming nasasaksihan kung paanong binabago ng mga proyektong ito ang buhay ng mga residente at ang sitwasyon sa kanilang mga komunidad,” he added.

According to Galvez, these interventions are more than just public conveniences but also to present opportunities for enterprises to flourish; opportunity for families to have regular food on the table; avenue for children to learn, dream and grow.

“These interventions give back human dignity for those that have gone astray,” he said.

Peace engagement

As part of his visit in the region, Galvez also visited a newly turned over village housing project especially built for former rebels and their families in Brgy. Del Pilar, also this city.

The peace adviser met with members of the community to listen to their concerns and learn what additional assistance can be provided to them by the government, as they reintegrate themselves into mainstream society.

“Yung gobyerno naman natin is very much willing to give any assistance you need. But always remember, nasa amin ang tulong, nasa inyo ang pagsisikap,” Galvez told the project beneficiaries.

The village, which consists of 17 housing units with a lot area of 80sqm and floor area of 36 sqm each unit, is the first-ever housing project funded by the National Housing Authority and supported by the 2nd District Congressional Office and the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte.

The project was implemented by the National Housing Authority under the government’s Enhanced Local Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which aims to help and secure former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and Militia ng Bayan (MB) who have laid down their arms and returned to the folds of law. ###