Infrastructure projects consisted of a bridge and road worth P89,833,789.93 will be constructed in a remote hinterland barangay in Balbalan, Kalinga to usher in increased socio-economic activity and development for its residents, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said on Sunday, Aug. 11.

The OPAPRU and the local government officials of Kalinga led the groundbreaking ceremony last Aug. 6 in Barangay Poswoy, which will be funded under the "PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn" (PAMANA) Program of the national government.

Although the peace agency did not identify the timetable for the projects, the construction of the bridge and road aims to link Barangay Poswoy to the town center and other neighboring areas as soon as possible, according to OPAPRU Executive Director Cesar De Mesa. 

Among the five villages in Balbalan town, De Mesa pointed out that Barangay Poswoy is experiencing major socio-economic challenges due to its remote location and isolation from the rest of the province.

“Because the area is so far away from the municipal proper, people do not have access to essential government facilities and social services, which have made them feel neglected and disconnected for many years,” said De Mesa, who represented OPAPRU Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. during the ceremony.

He said the construction of the road at Mangali-Taloctoc Tanudan to Mabongtot, Lubuagan Kalinga is a response to the long-time request of the municipalities for inter-municipal road connectivity, which is expected to boost agricultural and trading activities.

“With the construction of the bridge at Poswoy, we expect the situation here to dramatically change. This bridge will not only connect the barangay to neighboring areas but will also foster trust and cooperation between the government and the people of Balbalan and Kalinga as a whole,” De Mesa added.

Kalinga Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Flordeliza G. Moldero said that the bridge and road projects are an offshoot of the Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) consultation meeting conducted by the provincial government.

The proposal for the infrastructure projects was given by Kalinga Gov. James Edduba to Secretary Galvez in September 2022.

After a series of follow-up consultation meetings and validations, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to undertake the projects was signed last March 14 by the OPAPRU and Kalinga provincial local government unit headed by Edduba.

Edduba and Balbalan Municipal Mayor Almar P. Malannag expressed their gratitude to the OPAPRU for the infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, De Mesa urged the local government of Kalinga to work with them as he noted that planning, coordinating, and implementing the infrastructure projects “can be challenging” especially in environments “marked by instability, insecurity, and limited infrastructure.”

“Thus, we would like to encourage the community to aid in the monitoring of these projects to ensure their successful implementation. Kailangan lang namin ng tulong ng isa’t isa para ma-implement ng tama ang proyekto (We just need the cooperation of everybody to implement these projects correctly),” he stressed.

Implemented by OPAPRU, PAMANA is the flagship program of the national government that is focused on peace-building, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development in OPAPRU “Peace and Development Target Areas” – or communities which are previously affected by and vulnerable to conflict – across the country.