■ Ofelia C. Empian
Ifugao has inaugurated the Chapay Bridge in Mayoyao and initiated the Maguitawa-Dulao Bridge in between Mayoyao and Lagawe that would connect the various municipalities, as well as nearby provinces.
The P59.4 million Chapay Bridge with a length of 24 meters and width of 6.70 meters including sidewalks on both sides at Sitio Chapay, Barangay Inwaloy was inaugurated on May 27.
Ifugao Second District Engineering Officer Rommel Balajo said the two-phase project included the blasting of rocks and retaining wall slope protection.
Balajo said the Chapay Bridge will provide easier access for the transport of agricultural products especially those from Barangays Epeng, Maga, and Magullon where rice, various fruits, and vegetables are produced.
The project also has a 230-meter road opening component, which when completed, would connect Ifugao to Mountain Province through Barlig.
Epeng Punong Barangay (PB) Ricardo Polista said the bridge construction has been a long-time request of the three barangays, as it has been a challenge for the residents to transport their agricultural produce to Lagawe and nearby markets such as in Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal.
“We hope the road project would also be continued until completed, so that we could fully make use of the road and bridge for our agricultural products and transport of residents especially during emergency situations,” Polista said.
With the opening of the bridge and foreseen ease of transportation, Polista said they are expecting many residents, who have years ago migrated to nearby towns and provinces, will come back to their barangay.
Balajo said the road project has already underwent bidding with an additional P20 million and is awaiting the notice to proceed.
The bridge project and road opening are also expected to draw tourists for those who will trek Mount Amuyao located between Magulon in Mayoyao and Barlig.
Gov. Jerry Dalipog and Rep. Solomon Chungalao spearheaded the inauguration of the Chapay Bridge along with barangay officials.
On May 28, the provincial executives led the groundbreaking of the Maguitawa-Dulao Bridge in Barangay Nattum in Mayoyao and Dulao in Lagawe.
Dalipog said the bridge project would connect the two districts of Ifugao with the towns of Hungduan, Tinoc, Asipulo, Kiangan, Lamut, Hingyon, and Lagawe consisting district 1 and the towns of Banaue, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, and Alfonso Lista as district 2.
Nattum PB Joseph Poy-ao said they are looking forward for the completion of the bridge as it will connect them to Lagawe.
“We will already be able to use vehicles to transport our agricultural products and other materials. When the water level rises during the wet season, we use boats to ferry our goods to and from our barangay to cross towards Lagawe,” Poy-ao said.
Part of Mayoyao is a tributary to the Magat River, where Poy-ao said residents plant corn during the dry season and conduct fishing during the wet season, when water levels are high.
Chungalao said the P160M bridge project would aid in the transport and production of corn and other agricultural products in Mayoyao and nearby Alfonso Lista and Aguinaldo.
He said along with the bridge construction, which would be started this year, the road project from Barangay Halag, Aguinaldo to Nattum is also being proposed for funding from various agencies, as an additional road connection from Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista going to Lagawe.