P175M bridge, road projects to benefit 3 municipalities in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Socio-economic progress and sustainable development continues to unfold in Kalinga as the province was recently granted by the national government P175 million worth of infrastructure projects through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayan (PAMANA) program.

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the provincial local government unit of Kalinga headed by Governor James Edduba and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) regarding said projects.

The MOA signing which came about at the Philippine International Convention signals the start of the implementation of the projects which are set to benefit the municipalities of Balbalan, Lubuagan and Tanudan.

Said projects are the P90 million Poswoy Bridge in Barangay Poswoy, Balbalan, and the P85 million worth Banagao-Mangali, Tanudan - Barangay Mabongtot in Lubuagan road project.

In his speech, Governor Edduba, who personally attended the MOA signing, expressed gratitude to the Office of the President and OPAPRU for the granting of the projects, which he referred to as a significant milestone in the province’s pursuit for peace and progress.

According to the governor, the projects signal hope, connectivity and progress for the benefitting communities that were once isolated due to absence of accessible roads and bridges.

The move is also a crucial one since these particular areas were once disturbed by those who aimed at disrupting peace and stability.

“By bringing development to these areas, we are sending a clear message that the government is here to serve, fostering resilience and deterring threats to our peace and security,” he conveyed.

With the projects granted to Kalinga, Edduba pledged his support to its implementation and expressed hope that more projects would be allotted for the province in the future.

What is PAMANA ProjectPAMANA program, which was launched in 2022 by the national government, is a significant move aimed at addressing the primary causes of conflict and poverty in conflict-affected communities.

Through PAMANA, various projects such as infrastructure development, capacity-building, and livelihood projects are being carried out as these moves are seen to foster peace, stability, and inclusive growth to conflict-affected areas.