ILOILO– Communities living in the far-flung area of Calinog were recipients of over P63 million worth of newly constructed infrastructure projects.
Six Agroforestry Support Facilities funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) amounting to P63,480,727 were turned over to the municipal government.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6, through its Forestland Management Project (FMP) under the Iloilo Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), led the turn-over of the following infrastructures:
* Marandig Hanging Bridge – P8,499,178.02
* Aglonok Hanging Bridge – P6,642,379.66
* Supanga Hanging Bridge – P5,565,399.35
* Marandig Irrigation Pipeline System – P7,648,285.39
* Caratagan-Marandig Pathway – P24, 070,072.95
* Caratagan Irrigation Pipeline System – P11,055,411.72
Forester Marlon Atienza, FMP Project Manager, encouraged the communities to maintain the infrastructure.
“With the help of our international partners, we now made possible what we once called impossible. These bridges, roads and irrigation pipeline systems have provided you with access to the municipal proper, to education, and everything,” DENR-6 regional director Livino B. Duran said.
The Agroforestry Support Facilities are among the components of the Forestland Management Project, which started its implementation in 2012. The municipality of Calinog got 13 out of 32.
The rest of the Agroforestry Support Facilities are in the municipalities of Janiuay with 13, and Lambunao with six.
Former Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., together with the former DENR-6 regional director and former Iloilo PENR officer, were the signatories to the agreement.
“This is now the living legacy of collaboration between the DENR, local government units in the province, the municipal government, and the barangay. We only wish one thing, and that is to bring the JICA representatives here in Calinog for them to see the infrastructure they supported and for them to see how important their projects are to the upland community,” DENR-6 assistant regional director (ARD) for Technical Services Raul L. Lorilla said.
The turn-over ceremony was graced by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Calinog Mayor Francisco Calvo, Calinog Vice Mayor Andrew Gustillo, ARD for Special Concerns Ivene D. Reyes, FMP Project Manager Marlon Atienza, Iloilo PENR Officer Salvador C. Manglinong, Jr., and representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous People, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and National Irrigation Authority.
Also in attendance were FMP Region 6 Provincial Focal Person Forester Antonio Latoza, Jr., People’s Organization beneficiaries, FMP Site Management Officers and staff, members of Janiuay SB Council, and personnel from DENR-6, PENRO and CENRO. (With a report from DENR-6)/PN
