President Aquino inaugurates P772.9-million
Lullutan Bridge that would boost Isabela's agricultural sector
(ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) President Benigno S. Aquino
III on Tuesday inaugurated the P772.9-million bridge in Barangay Lullutan,
Ilagan City, Isabela province.
In a project briefing during the inauguration,
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the bridge used to be
a spillway that was destroyed by a typhoon some 20 years ago.
Secretary Singson apologized for the one-year
delay in the construction of the 500-meter Lullutan Bridge, explaining that the
government ran into a number of problems while building it.
Noting that the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) has allocated P8.1 billion for Isabela from 2011 to 2015, he said
the government will continue to improve Isabela's national roads and construct
more farm-to-market roads in the province.
The bridge, considered as one of the longest
bridges to cross the Cagayan River, connects Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay
Lullutan, both in Ilagan.
With the absence of a bridge after the spillway
was destroyed in 1995, residents have been using barges to transport their
agricultural products to markets in Ilagan.
The Lullutan Bridge, with a loading capacity of 20
tons, is made of 14-span structural steel girders with reinforced concrete slab
supported by 13 piers, with two concrete column pedestals resting on group
bored pile foundation. It also features Portland Cement Concrete Pavement
approaches, measuring 1.175 kilometers.
The bridge was completed last January 21 under
Package II-A of the DPWH.
Officials expect the bridge to open up new
opportunities for Isabela, particularly its agricultural sector.
Also during the inauguration, President Aquino led
the granting of financial assistance to 73 boatmen (bangkeros) displaced by the
construction of the Lullutan Bridge.
Each bangkero, who used to ferry people and goods
when the bridge was not yet completed, received P20,000 from the President.
Also present at the event were Isabela Governor
Faustino Dy III, Isabela District 1 Representative Rodolfo Albano III, and
Ilagan City Mayor Jose Marie Diaz. PND (as)
President Aquino vows to continue improving Isabela's
infrastructure
(ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) The inauguration of the
P772.9-million Lullutan Bridge is just the start of the government scheme to
improve the infrastructure of the Cagayan Valley region, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said on Tuesday.
“Bahagi lamang ang Lullutan Bridge sa malawakan
nating inisyatiba na paunlarin ang imprastruktura sa Isabela at sa buong
bansa,” President Aquino said in his speech during the event.
He noted that since 2011, the government has
released P11.9 billion for the development of Isabela's infrastructure and
irrigation projects.
Among these projects, he said, are the ongoing
construction of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge that will connect Isabela and
other municipalities in the Cordillera Administrative Region; and the repair
and widening of the Maharlika Highway, National Road 1 or Asian Highway 26.
"Tuloy-tuloy din po ang konstruksiyon natin
ng kalsadang magkokonekta sa Daang Maharlika at sa Santiago-Tuguegarao Road sa
Santiago City," he added.
Also part of the government initiative are 59.56
kilometers (km) of farm-to-market roads in the province that have been built
and repaired, he said.
“Oras matapos natin ang dagdag pang 15.91 na
kilometrong farm-to-market roads dito sa inyo, aabot sa halos 20,000 ang farmer
beneficiaries ng probinsiya,” the President said.
He further reported that the government has
completed 161 irrigation projects in Isabela, and is working to finish 32 more
irrigation projects that would water 146,625 hectares of farmlands and benefit
90,950 farmers.
“Idagdag na rin ninyo diyan ang sinimulan nating
Pasa Small Reservoir Irrigation Project. ‘Pag nakumpleto ito sa 2016,
inaasahang tataas sa 9,996 metric tons mula sa 555 metric tons ang annual rice
production ng Ilagan,” he stated.
Summing up the infrastructure projects in the
entire Cagayan Valley region, the President said the government has already
begun developing 25.4 km of the first section of the alternate route for Dalton
Pass and is studying the extension of the North-South Railway Project that will
traverse Isabela as well as the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.
President Aquino said the government aims to
increase the budget allocation for national infrastructure development from the
present four percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to five percent next
year.
"Dahil nga pinili ng sambayanan ang tuwid na
daan, ang mga pangarap na dating nakatiwangwang, isa-isa na pong nating
naisasakatuparan. Mula sa pagiging ‘Sick Man of Asia’, ‘Asia’s Rising Tiger’ na
ang ating bansa," he said. PND (as)
President Aquino expects Filipinos to choose new
leader who adheres to 'daang matuwid'
(ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) President Benigno S. Aquino
III said Tuesday he is confident that the Filipino people will choose a new
leader who will continue the "righteous path" that he championed when
he ran for office five years ago.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Lullutan
Bridge here, the President credited the Filipino people for bringing about
change in the country.
“Kayo ang aking mga Boss; kayo ang sambayanang
Pilipino na aking pinaglilingkuran; kayo po ang gumawa ng pagbabago. Kayo po
ang naging susi para sa transpormasyong tinatamasa na natin ngayon. Binigyan po
ninyo ako ng mandato, at sabay-sabay po nating nakikita ang positibong bunga ng
lahat ng ating pinagsikapan," he told his audience.
He noted that if the people are pleased with the
country’s transformation, then they must continue supporting good governance.
Addressing the frequently asked question on who
would pursue the reforms he has begun once he leaves office, the President said
he believes that the people would continue building the nation.
"Mga Boss, bilib ako sa inyo. Kayo ang
magpapatuloy nito, at alam kong hindi kayo magpapa-bola sa mga nagprepresentang
kakampi natin, pero klaro namang doble-kara," he noted.
"Tiwala akong marunong tumanaw ang Pilipino
sa nakaraan, nang hindi na maulit pa ang mga naging kamalian noon, at sa gayon
ay marating natin ang nais nating patunguhan."
In his remaining 450 days in office, he said he is
more determined to continue pushing for national development.
“Bilang inyong Pangulo, tunay pong pribilehiyo ko
na paglingkuran ang sambayanan. Sa patnubay at pagmamahal ng Panginoon, at sa
matibay ninyong suporta, sigurado akong walang anumang pagsubok ang di natin
kayang lagpasan,” President Aquino said. PND (as)
