BANGUED, Abra(PIA) - - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Provincial Engineering Office recently gave updates on the status of projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the national government in Abra, in line with Executive Order 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte in ending the more than 50 years insurgency problem in the country.
All located in the uplands, four barangays in Malibcong namely Duldulao, Buanao, Bayabas, and Dulao and two barangays in Sallapadan - Naguilian and Ud-udiao - are recipients of the 18 SBDP projects identified by the community themselves. Each barangay is allotted P20 million for the priority projects.
DILG Abra Provincial Director Millicent Carino reported that of the18 projects, two were already completed, the upgrading of local access road in Induyas, Naguilian and the road upgrading and improvement of Gasek to Nagamsan in Buanao, Malibcong. Theses projects were inspected by some members of the National, Regional and Provincial Task Forces in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) last week.
Ongoing are the road upgrading of Duldulao barangay, upgrading of local access road in Ud-udiao, upgrading of Bayabas barangay road, upgrading of Barangay Dulao access road, and the construction of Barangay Health Station in Buanao.
In support to agricultural production is a rice harvester for Naguilian which was already purchased and delivered to farmer-recipients, and awaiting training for its operation and maintenance
According to PEO Chief Engr. Rey Alagao, majority of the remaining projects are under procurement such as the construction of Level II potable water supply system in Sitio Caniogan, construction of Level II potable water supply system sitio Contang, construction of Level II potable water supply system in sitio Naguilian Upper, construction of Level II potable water supply system in sitio Naguilian Lower, Construction of Level II water supply system at Duldulao, construction of Level II water supply system at Lugong, Buanao, and construction of Level III potable water supply system in Bayabas.
A one-storey school building for each of barangays Bayabas, Dulao and Duldulao are awaiting approval from the Department of Budget and Management with the change in project title and description indicating some funding adjustments.
These SBDP projects are being implemented by the provincial government through the PEO.
The SBDP is intended for barangays which used to be identified as communist terrorist group or insurgent areas and were cleared following a process under the Retooled Community Support Program led by the DILG, in partnership with the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police.
Aquino Bagayao, a resident of Ud-udiao, Sallapadan looks forward to better roads and transportation with the improvement of local access road in his locality. (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Abra)
