USAID inaugurates first footbridge project in Compostela Valley remote village

BARANGAY NGAN, Compostela Valley, Sept. 8 — The first footbridge project worth more than P1-million under the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) inaugurated recently in Barangay Ngan, Compostela municipality, this province.

Robert F. Barnes, USAID’s Economic Growth Advisor, said the project is not the last one that will be implemented in the province. It’s just the first infrastructure project to be completed and awarded to the beneficiaries.

Barnes said the newly constructed 42-linear meter footbridge, which provides safe and reliable year-round access to Barangay Ngan from Barangay Tamia, is GEM’s Barangay Infrastructure Project (BIP). It was formally inaugurated and turned-over to the residents of the area last week.

According to GEM-BIP’s team leader, Engr. Ronaldo F. Ypil, there are already four projects completed in the province under the BIP.

“The first one is this footbridge. We also have a solar dryer project in Maco and Mabini and a trading center in Pantukan,” Ypil said.

Ypil also said that there are four other on-going projects in the province, such as a footbridge project in Monkayo and Pantukan; water system in Mawab; and water spillway, also in Barangay Ngan.

Compostela Mayor Reynaldo Q. Castillo said the newly-inaugurated footbridge will definitely help the residents of the area, especially that it will provide easy access to resources and services.

Barnes assured that the footbridge will last for centuries especially if the local government and the residents will take the responsibility of maintaining the project. The provincial government of Compostela Valley has a counterpart of 31 percent of the entire cost.

“We hope that in your (LGU) budget, you’ll allocate enough amount for the maintenance. The bridge is a manifestation of our desire to continuously bring peace and prosperity in Mindanao,” Barnes said.

He said the province of Compostela Valley is a known New People's Army (NPA) rebel hotspot in Mindanao.

He said Barangay Ngan is identified by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as a priority area under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI para sa Kalayaan Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

At the request of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), some barangays under the KALAHI-Kalayaan program were identified to receive assistance from USAID’s GEM Program. Barangay Ngan is one of those barangays.

Barnes said the project will directly benefit about 7,000 residents of Sitio Sta. Maria and Barangay Tamia and its neighboring barangays. The Ngan River separates Barangay Ngan from Barangay Tamia.

“Many high school students from Barangay Tamia cross the Ngan River to get to the Sta. Maria High School in Sitio Sta. Maria. When it rains, students from this interior sitio can’t attend classes since there is no alternative safe crossing close by. Residents of Barangay Tamia are also cut-off from basic services available in the poblacion. The only way to schools and the poblacion is a 10-kilometer round-about route,” he said.

Both barangay chairmen Margarito A. Alcos Jr. of Ngan and Jaime E. Paulo of Tamia expressed gratitude and optimism the footbridge will bring them more economic benefits.

With the footbridge, Alcos said, they can easily transport their products even with heavy rains since their carabaos and motorcycles can still cross. (PNA) FFC/JGQ/lvp

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