BRGY. POSWOY, BALBALAN, KALINGA —- The residents of this remote hinterland barangay are gearing up for increased socioeconomic activity as they will soon be better connected to the rest of the municipality.

This, after the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Kalinga led the groundbreaking ceremony of its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program-funded infrastructure projects on August 6.

The PAMANA projects, which are worth Php89,833,789.93, will include the construction of a bridge and road that will link Brgy Poswoy to the town center and other neighboring areas.

From validation to MOA signing

According to Kalinga Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Flordeliza G. Moldero, the bridge and road projects are an offshoot of the Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) consultation meeting conducted by the provincial government.

Moldero pointed out that among the 14 barangays of the municipality, 11 have been identified as ELCAC barangays. The consultation validated the proposals submitted by different ELCAC barangays for funding to the PLGU.

She recalled that the proposal for the said infrastructure projects was personally given by Gov. James Edduba to Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. during the 36th Sipat Commemoration in September 2022.

After a series of follow up consultation meetings and validations, the Memorandum of Agreement to undertake the projects was signed on March 14, 2024 by the Kalinga PLGU headed by Edduba and OPAPRU.

PAMANA, which is being implemented by OPAPRU, is the flagship program of the national government that is focused on peace-building, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development in OPAPRU Peace and Development Target Areas across the country.

Bridge of trust and cooperation

Among the five barangays in Balbalan, Brgy. Poswoy is experiencing major socio-economic challenges due to its remote location and isolation from the rest of the province.

“Because the area is so far away from the municipal proper, people do not have access to essential government facilities and social services, which have made them feel neglected and disconnected for many years,” said OPAPRU Executive Director Cesar De Mesa who represented Sec. Galvez during the groundbreaking ceremony.

“With the construction of the bridge at Poswoy, we expect the situation here to dramatically change. This bridge will not only connect the barangay to neighboring areas, but will also foster trust and cooperation between the government and the people of Balbalan and Kalinga as a whole,” De mesa added.

He said the construction of the road at Mangali-Taloctoc Tanudan to Mabongtot, Lubuagan Kalinga is a response to the long-time request of the municipalities for inter-municipal road connectivity, which is expected to boost agricultural and trading activities.

Support and commitment

“We are bringing the government closer to the people,” Edduba said, emphasizing that government services are now reaching the most remote areas in the province.

Balbalan Municipal Mayor Almar P. Malannag expressed his gratitude to OPAPRU and the provincial government for the infrastructure projects.

“Ngayon, (mas) marami na ang gawa (kaysa) sa salita at malaking tulong ito sa Balbalan,” Malannag said.

Meanwhile, the barangay captains Poswoy, Ab-abaan, Balantoy and Dao-angan, also attended the groundbreaking, as they pledged their commitment to fully support the construction of the bridge and road projects.

Overcoming challenges

For his part, De Mesa noted that planning, coordinating and implementing these infrastructure projects can be challenging, especially in environments marked by instability, insecurity, and limited infrastructure, “there is no doubt that our interventions will eventually bear fruit.”

“Thus, we would like to encourage the community to aid in the monitoring of these projects to ensure their successful implementation. Kailangan lang namin ng tulong ng isa’t isa para ma-implement ng tama ang proyekto” he stressed.

“I would like to acknowledge the invaluable role of the Kalinga PLGU’s project management team, particularly in overseeing pre-implementation activities as well as ramping up its comprehensive efforts to address the root causes of armed conflict in the locality,” De Mesa concluded. ###