DAVAO CITY — Three remote villages in the hinterlands of Davao Oriental now avail solar lights after the provincial government turned over nine units to the residents.
Residents from the villages of PM Sobrecary, Palo, and Maglahos have been using the traditional gas lamp in the communities since it is located in the hinterlands of Caraga town.
But their life has changed now when Governor Nelson Dayanghirang visited the village and handed over nine solar lights, as it was distributed based on the population of the village, to wit: Sitio Palo (4); Sitio Dangilas (3) and Sitio Maglahos received two (2).
Early on, the provincial government also turned over solar lights to the farthest village Sitio Butay of Barangay Pichon.
Sitio Butay does not have access road, while one has to climb a 90-degree cliff to ascend and descend to reach Caraga River and cross the rampaging water of Caraga River via an improvised rattan cable.
During his visit, Governor Dayanghirang also inspected the proposed road project in Sitio Maglahos which will traverse in Sitio Butay.
The provincial government, through the road construction project, hopes to change this situation as these three sitios in PM Sobrecarey will be connected to Sitio Butay.
Meanwhile, the national government has funded the construction of Maglahos road which will connect the town boundaries of Caraga town in Davao Oriental and Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
“With this road project, your products can easily be transported. I really hope that this will pave the way for a more vibrant economic activity, especially for the town of Caraga,” said Dayanghirang.
Dayanghirang also added, the provincial government will continue to improve the roads in the remote villages as these are the most vulnerable areas of recruitment by communist insurgents.
The Governor is also optimistic that those roads and livelihood projects will primarily benefit the Indigenous communities, and shall boost the campaign of the province to end the roots of insurgency.
These programs, he said, are anchored on the national government’s program to end the local insurgency concerns, considering that the IP communities are vulnerable to the armed conflict given their geographical location which is mostly in the hinterlands.
Pablo Banabal, the principal of Butay Integrated School said the solar lights will greatly help the learners and their families especially now that they will adopt the modular system of learning because of the threat brought about by coronavirus-19 pandemic.
The military has also assured the residents of their support to the villagers in their quest for peace.
Lt. Col. Roman Maborang, Batallion, Commander of the 66th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army said the communities are their partners in development.- Newsline.ph
