A principal’s heartfelt social media post showing students crossing a neck-deep river to get to school has prompted the national government to begin construction of a new concrete bridge to ensure safer access to education.

The now-viral photos and videos taken by Mr. Gideon Goc-ong, principal of Pisompongan Integrated School in Brgy. Pisompongan, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur, struck a chord with officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), leading the agency to earmark P60 million for the construction of the bridge through its “PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn” or PAMANA Program, according to a statement from the agency released on Monday, Aug. 4.

PAMANA is the national government’s peace and development convergence initiative for conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in the landlocked village of Pisompongan last August 1 to officially launch the project.

OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said the courage and tenacity of the residents of Barangay Pisompongan “were born out of decades of silently dealing with decades of armed conflict caused by the communist group.”

“These images captured a painful reality: that most children in remote communities face danger and uncertainty just to get an education,” he said, referring to the social media post of Principal Goc-ong.

According to Galvez, residents in Brgy. Pisompongan and other neighboring villages of Piwan, Balonai, Pili, and Dakayakan find it hard to reach the school, markets, and health facilities as the Pisompongan River reaches dangerously high levels of water during the rainy season, completely cutting people off from the town center.

However, the residents remained undaunted as they lifted their livestock, carried their motorcycles, and teachers waded through waist-deep waters to hold classes.

The OPAPRU, through PAMANA, is now working closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the local government of Midsalip for the construction of the concrete bridge “which can withstand floods and storms.”

The OPAPRU is also set to build two more bridges along the Midsalip-Bouan road in 2026 to connect communities, facilitate the movement of produce and people, and boost economic activity in the area.

Once completed, Galvez said the concrete bridge “will connect people to education, to commerce, and each other.” The local government unit of Midsalip will oversee a localized maintenance plan to ensure the long-term maintenance and sustainability of the structure.

Community members were also urged to take part in protecting the bridge.

“It is my earnest hope that through this project, the people will feel the presence of the government,” Galvez said.

Goc-ong, for his part, thanked the national government and local government unit of Zamboanga del Sur for addressing the concerns of the residents.

“Our students cried. They will no longer risk their lives just to go to school. At the same time, teachers and residents from Pili, Balonai, Dakayakan, Piwan and especially Pisompongan community will no longer struggle,” he said.