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Army links remote villages to markets in Caraga

By Alexander Lopez

November 21, 2019, 3:56 pm

BUTUAN CITY – Two far-flung villages in the province of Agusan del Sur will soon be linked to the market centers in the area with the help of the Philippine Army.

For years, the residents of Segunda and Maliwanag in the town of Esperanza experience difficulties in transporting their farm products to market centers said Lt. Col. Rodel V. Pangilinan, the commanding officer of the 544 Engineer Battalion (544 EB) of the 52nd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army.

The majority of the population in the two villages belongs to the Higaonon tribe.

Pangilinan told Philippine News Agency on Thursday that they recently started the road opening project in Segunda and Maliwanag.

“We deployed 30 personnel in the area to do the construction work and at the same time secure the workers and facilities,” Pangilinan added.

Members of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were also deployed in the area to help secure the engineering work.

The four-kilometer road project is funded by the local government unit (LGU) of Esperanza, and is part of 544 EB’s thrust dubbed as “Collaboration is the strongest link in building Peace and Development.”

“The LGU provides diesel fuel to our equipment involved in the road opening project and food to our personnel,” Pangilinan said, adding that around 400 families in two barangays will directly benefit from the road project.

Pangilinan said barangays Segunda and Maliwanag serve as the training ground of the New People's Army (NPA) for years.

Government interventions are usually hampered by the rebels’ presence, denying the people’s right to peace and development, he added.

In a separate statement issued on Wednesday, 544 EB said the people of Segunda and Maliwanag have been longing for government development initiatives, especially the construction of a road that would link them to market centers.

The statement also quoted barangay captains Jeffry A. Mansoconan and Liezel M. Magunding of Segunda and Maliwanag, respectively, thanking the government for the road project.

Pangilinan also said the unit is involved in the ongoing road construction project in Sitio Emerald, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur in collaboration with the LGU and other line agencies of the government. (PNA)

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