Aklanon residents and ARBs receive P8.4-million Tulay ng Pangulo project

Kalibo, Aklan – Around 7,785 Aklanon residents, including agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) will benefit from a newly-built steel bridge with concrete pavement turned over by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to the municipality of Ibajay on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to provide them with easier access to cross the river to transport their agricultural products to the nearest market.

Ronald Almodal, Naisud barangay kagawad, on behalf of the ARBs expressed his gratitude to the DAR and other government agencies for their answered prayer.

“We are very thankful to the DAR, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the local government of Ibajay for this bridge. Our road is now passable to all kinds of 4-wheeled vehicles not only transport our products to the nearby markets, but also in cases of emergencies,“ Almodal said.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, with Teodorico Haresco, Jr., Aklan 2nd district representative, Jesry T. Palmares, Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO), Atty. Sheila Enciso, Western Visayas Regional Director, lead the inauguration and turnover of the Naisud Bridge.

He said the old bridge was only passable to light vehicles like tricycles, motorcycles, and bicycles and they had to pay additional costs to transport their products.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the P8.4 million double-lane modular steel bridge with a total length of 28.80 linear meters was constructed under the Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project.

“This project is aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve the lives of the farmers. The government is always behind you to support and provide you with the necessary services that you need”, Estrella said.

Blessing of the “ Naisud Bridge” in Brgy. Naisud, Ibajay, Aklan in partnership with the DPWH and the local government unit of Ibajay.

Western Visayas Regional Director Atty. Sheila Enciso said that residents and ARBs of barangay Naisud have waited for years for the TPKP project to be completed hoping that it will bring a high impact to improve their livelihood activities. She noted that farmers and ARBs are the main actors in the agriculture industry which provides self-sufficiency and food security among members of the community.

“This bridge links the barangays of Ibajay to the economic mainstream and opens up opportunities for the ARBs to enhance their agricultural productivity and household income,” she said.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Ma. Teresa C. Valencia said the metallic bridge now connects the residents of four (4) barangays in the area, namely Naisud, San Isidro, Bugtong Bato, and Colong-colong to the town proper.

“The bridge was constructed in coordination with the DPWH, and used pre-fabricated materials imported from France,’ she said.

The newly constructed “Naisud Bridge” in Brgy. Naisud, Ibajay, Aklan.

SOURCE: Aklanon residents and ARBs receive P8.4-million Tulay ng Pangulo project | News | Department of Agrarian Reform