Three bridges eyed for Argao, Bogo, Medellin

Projects funded under ‘Tulay ng Pangulo’ program for calamity-hit areas

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Central Visayas is evaluating three sites in Cebu where new bridges will be put up under the national government’s Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) program.

The  areas are barangay Lengigon in Argao town in the south,  and Calambua in San Remigio town and Malingin in Bogo City in the north.

“We already have the programs of work. Once everything is in place, there will be a signing of the agreement between the DAR secretary, the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) secretary and the provincial government,” said Antonio del Socorro, DAR-7 assistant regional director for operations.

During the Provincial Development Council (PDC) full council meeting last June 9, Provincial Board (PB) Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero of Cebu’s 3rd district suggested that Toledo City also be considered as one of the sites for the bridges.

Del Socorro welcomed the proposal. A resolution was approved during the PDC meeting endorsing several DAR projects under the Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness (IPAC) program.

Counterpart

The program aims to reduce poverty and develop the agribusiness sector of each beneficiary local government.

Del Socorro said the recipients in Cebu and Bohol were those hit by calamities such as the earthquake and supertyphoon Yolanda.

DAR will shoulder the cost of the pre-fabricated steel bars that will be mounted on the substructures. Each substructure’s cost will vary per area with the substructure in Argao town costing P3 million, San Remigio at P3.3 million, and P2.9 million for Bogo City.

PB Member Peter John Calderon, representing Cebu’s second district, has already committed the counterpart fund for Argao.

Del Socorro said that should the MOA be signed within this month, the construction may be completed by the third quarter of the year at the latest.

The TPKP project involves the construction, installation and establishment of “universal bridges” in priority agrarian reform communities (ARCs) and areas covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).