HILAAN, Bontoc, Southern Leyte (PIA)  --  The damaged bridge in this interior location which serves as a vital link to the other three priority barangays of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) will be the focus of convergence efforts to spring it back to life.

For the provincial local government, unit this will be the focus for major rehabilitation works this year.

This was declared by Vice Governor Emily Mercado in her message on Wednesday, January 4, right here at the barangay gym in this rural community, during the groundbreaking ceremony of five projects intended for the four ELCAC-listed barangays.

Attending the ceremony even on a rain-soaked day were Arnel Agabe, DILG-8 regional director; Grace Subong, DSWD-8 regional director; municipal officials led by Mayor Noel Alinsub; and DILG personnel headed by Danilo Laguitan, provincial director.

Also present were heads of national line agencies who headed clusters under PTF-ELCAC, such as DOLE, TESDA, DPWH, DENR, and PIA.

The vice governor said that despite the pandemic wrought by COVID-19 and the wide swath of destruction ripped by Typhoon Odette, provincial officials did not waver in their common aspiration to gradually free the people out of the hard conditions.

As to moves to put up back the Hilaan Bridge, which is the only link for residents of upland barangays Hitawos, Pamigsian, and Olisihan to pass by, she vowed to closely coordinate and follow this up with First District Rep. Luz Verano Mercado.

She called on the people to lay their trust in their leaders, saying the government is working for their welfare and that dreams for development can be realized with such kind of faith and confidence the citizenry pose upon their officials.

After her talk, the simple groundbreaking ceremony followed in which top officials like the Vice Gov. Mercado, Director Agabe, Director Subong, and Mayor Alinsub, among others, held shovels in a prepared mound of sand to signal implementation of upgrading, rehab of farm-to-market road projects, and an improved water system for a total cost of P16 million.

All the projects stand to benefit about 4,000 individuals living in the four rural communities.  (MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)