DAR-Quezon province leads inauguration and turn-over of two “Tulay ng Pangulo” bridges
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), represented by DAR CALABARZON Regional Director Cupido Gerry Asuncion, led the inauguration and turn-over of the two newly-built bridges worth a combined PhP20M in Mulanay and San Francisco, Quezon.
Under the “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP)” program of DAR, the Department has collaborated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government units which led to the successful construction of the infrastructure projects — Bagupaye Bridge in Mulanay, and Malawmaw Bridge in San Francisco — to connect the agrarian reform communities (ARC) to the markets and open up various economic opportunities especially in agriculture.
The Bagupaye Bridge, worth PhP10.8M, is 17.40 linear meters long, and links Barangay Bagupaye to Barangays Anonang and Burgos in Mulanay — directly benefitting at least 5,000 people in the three barangays.
On the other hand, the Malawmaw Bridge has a length of 34.2 linear meters and is worth PhP9.2M, connecting Barangay Pagsangahan to Barangay Huyon-huyon in San Francisco. The bridge will benefit some 23,000 residents including more than 4,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the PAGNASA (Pagsangahan-Nasalaan) ARC and MASANTUYON ARC (Brgys. Mabunga, Sto. Niño, Huyon-huyon) in the municipality.
In his message, Asuncion extended his gratitude to DPWH — one of the implementing agencies under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), particularly for these types of projects; and the LGUs for accomplishing this feat.
“Mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng convergence sa pagitan ng bawat ahensiya dahil ito ay nagbubunga ng mga proyektong makakatulong sa ating mga magsasaka tulad ng mga tulay na ito. Ito ay patunay na kahit iba’t iba man ang mandato ng bawat ahensiya, maiaangat natin ang pamumuhay ng bawat mamamayan kung may pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa,” Asuncion exclaimed.
Engr. Cornelio P. Villapando, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II of DAR Quezon II, highlighted in his speech that the DAR’s role is not limited to land distribution but also to the delivery of legal and support services to ensure that the government’s awarded lands become drivers for development and peace in the countryside.
“Sa pangunguna ng ating Acting Secretary Bernie F. Cruz at Regional Director Gerry Asuncion, ang aming ahensiya ay patuloy na magbibigay ng mga tulong sa pamamagitan ng mga programa at proyektong katulad nito upang umunlad ang buhay ng bawat magsasaka,” Villapando said.
Engr. Marcelino Francisco Jr., the representative of DPWH Region IV-A, gave appreciation to the DAR for this collaboration and expressed hope that this partnership will continue to benefit more people and communities in the future.
He likewise emphasized that the constructed bridges under the “Tulay ng Pangulo” were different from the standard bridges because the project adopted European design and technology, making the bridges faster to build, sturdier, and hence are expected to last longer.
“These are world-class bridges, which could last for generations,” expressed Engr. Renato A. Jaca, DAR Quezon II’s Chief of the Support Services Division.
Representing the Governor of Quezon in the Mulanay event, former 3rd District Board Member Dominic Reyes lauded the efforts of the project stakeholders and said that: “Every development project, however big or small, as long as they are beneficial to the masses, are most welcome.”
For her part, 3rd District Representative Aleta C. Suarez, who graced the occasion in Barangay Pagsangahan, San Francisco, Quezon, said, “Iba-iba man ang kulay natin kapag panahon ng eleksyon, matapos ang labanan, dapat tayo ay tulong-tulong upang gumanda ang buhay ng bawat mamamayan.”
The bridge projects were gladly accepted by the respective municipal LGUs, who were both in “full force” for the separate events. Mulanay Mayor Jay Tito Q. Ojeda II, led the officials and community residents of his town in the ceremony held in Sitio Maralahay, Barangay Bagupaye; while San Francisco Mayor Elvira DC. Alega led the local executives and expecting crowd in Brgy. Pagsangahan, San Francisco, Quezon.
Together, the two bridges are expected to open up the development of some 14,200 hectares of agricultural land within their operational scope. (PIO Quezon II)