NEW BRIDGE. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 8 (Eastern Visayas) turned over to Magsaysay village in Javier, Leyte on Wednesday (Dec. 11, 2019) a bridge that would benefit about 10,000 villagers. The PHP9.7 million project was funded by the French government through the Compagnie Francaise d’Assurance pour le Commerce Extérieur (COFACE) coursed through DAR. (Photo courtesy of DAR-8)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 8 (Eastern Visayas) turned over to Magsaysay village in Javier, Leyte on Wednesday a bridge that would change the lives of its estimated 10,000 residents.
Before the bridge’s construction this year, villagers carrying farm produce crossed the stream via a spillway that becomes impassable when heavy rains bring floods.
“Especially during rainy seasons, like (the) months of November and December, our children could not attend their class at the town center,” Magsaysay village chief Raul Abueva said. “When it rains, it overflows, making it dangerous for the children to cross the stream.”
The PHP9.7 million project was funded by the French government through the Compagnie Francaise d’Assurance pour le Commerce Extérieur (COFACE) coursed through DAR.
The 28-meter bridge, implemented in coordination with the DPWH, uses pre-fabricated materials imported from France. It is the first “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo” (President’s bridge for agrarian development) in Eastern Visayas.
The project, which was launched in 2008 through the Philippine and the French Export Credit Facility, aims to build 418 modular prefabricated steel bridges nationwide with a span of 10,436.4 meters designed to link agrarian reform communities (ARCs) to areas of economic activities to open development potentials and address problem on poverty.
The project is supposed to be implemented for six years but was suspended after the Senate made an inquiry seven years ago over allegations of construction of a “bridge to nowhere” in the past.
As he led the inauguration, DAR Undersecretary Bernie Cruz reminded the recipients to take care of the project and maintain it in good condition for the next generation.
“Take good care and use this project properly because your local government unit and the national government worked hard to implement this to help your community,” Cruz said.
Javier town Mayor Michael Javier said the town’s local government and residents appreciate the government support given to their municipality, such as the assistance from DAR. “This is a sign of progress, a sign of success for this town,” he said.
Javier added that about 10,000 residents from six villages stand to benefit from the project, among them 293 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
With the bridge, the area becomes an alternative route in going to the adjacent municipality of Abuyog.
Previous projects implemented by DAR in the municipality include six farm-to-market roads with a combined amount of PHP96.8 million. (PNA)
