Soldiers help open mountain road in Dumanjug

CEBU, Philippines — An 800-meter road has been cleared and officially opened to connect two mountain barangays of Dumanjug town in southern Cebu by the joint forces of Visayas Command (VISCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the local government unit of Dumanjug.

For a long time, residents of Barangay Cotcoton would walk approximately seven kilometers just to get into the main road and to Barangay Bulyogan where the school is located.

With the road opening, the residents could now shorten their walking time by 30 minutes.

Major Abner Sparcia, chief of the 53rd Engineering Brigade of Philippine Army, said the project was materialized when the LGU of Dumanjug has requested them for support through the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) on the barangay development program.

"Kini nga project naka program na ni by 2022, however, nauna na si LGU nga mag request sa 53rd ID, at na approve naman sya by November that's why nag deploy kami ng equipment to start the road opening na 800 meters road opening and 1.5 kilometers na road clearing para mapaganda ang pagdaan o pag-agi sa atoang mga lumulopyo," Sparcia told the media Thursday.

The road opening is a big help to residents especially to students since Barangay Kotkoton does not have a school on its own.

Students in the area would walk miles just to reach Barangay Bulyogan where the school is located.

Aside from this, farmers in the barangay will have an easier access route to transport their goods in the city for the trading.

"At the same (time) ang mga agricultural products nila mas dali nila nga madala didto sa lungsod especially ang mga kopras nila, mga mais, mga manok nila, dali nila madala, so dako nga tabang ni nila," said Sparcia.

The road opening and clearing have been worked up by the personnel of the 53rd Engineering Brigade for ten days and the turnover of the completed project will be done next week.

Meanwhile, Paciana Luab, Cotcoton barangay captain, said this project could open doors to their farmers for their products to reach the market.

Further, Gregorio Demol, Bulyogan barangay councilman, also said that this development would also make all their transactions in the city easier now to access.

"Sa una, lakaw ra gyud intawon, ang amoang buhataon pag naa mamatay dayong gyud mi gikan diri padung didto sa lungsod," said Demol.

For Lora Mae Alviola, Dumanjug municipal administrator, the road access in the area has long been the problem of the residents. — GMR (FREEMAN)