The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6 said on Friday, Jan. 27, that the newly-completed road had provided access to two far-flung barangays in Ilog, Negros Occidental.
Aside from the road project, a building was also constructed for the use of the indigenous peoples (IP) in Kabankalan City.
"Barangays Consuelo and Vista Alegre in Ilog now experience better mobility and safer road travel with the concrete paving of a 945-lineal meter access road at a total cost of P19.6 million which is seen to spur socio-economic development in the local communities,’’ DPWH Regional Office 6 said in a statement.
"With this improved road, people from barangays Consuelo and Vista Alegre now have better access to the town proper for their essential needs, and local farmers can now transport their goods at a lesser hauling cost," said DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
DPWH Regional Office 6 Director Nerie D. Bueno added that the DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office has finished the construction of the new Indigenous Peoples Governance Center (IPGC) building in Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City.
She said the single-storey, 84-square meter multi-purpose building complete with necessary facilities will serve as a center for local officials where they can perform their functions, craft policies, and implement programs toward the preservation of IP culture, tradition, and institution.
The DPWH Regional Office 6 director disclosed that it will also serve as a training venue for members of the IP community in the barangay towards social, personal, and economic development.