(1ST UPDATE) As residents of a remote village gain access to a safer, more reliable river crossing through a newly constructed hanging bridge, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that development is most needed in communities far from city centers.
Gatchalian made the statement during his inspection of the newly completed hanging bridge in Sitio Pagulaon, Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City, in Negros Occidental, on Thursday, June 4.
“Development is more needed in remote and isolated communities that are farther from city centers,” Gatchalian told Brigada News FM in Tagalog.
The bridge was funded under the DSWD’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, which provided P1.6 million for the project. Counterpart funding from the Kabankalan City government brought the total project cost to P2.4 million.
PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) is the national government’s flagship peace and development program for isolated, hard-to-reach, conflict-affected, and conflict-vulnerable communities. It was launched in 2011 and is implemented by the DSWD in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), local government units, and other agencies
Gatchalian assured that the DSWD focuses not only on communities near city centers but also on areas that genuinely need development through its community-driven development projects.
Mayor Benjie Miranda said the bridge would benefit not only residents of the village but also people from the Oriental side of Negros Island who regularly use the crossing, particularly on market days.
He added that the bridge would improve public safety. Before its construction, residents had to cross the river on a temporary bamboo bridge that would collapse every year.
Miranda also welcomed Gatchalian’s visit, saying the DSWD chief was able to personally inspect the project and see its actual condition.
According to the mayor, he was happy that Gatchalian saw firsthand that the bridge is not a “ghost project” and that it was successfully completed through a partnership between national and local government agencies.
Meanwhile, 6th district representative Mercedes Alvarez expressed her gratitude, on behalf of the people, to the DSWD chief for taking the time and effort to see how the project benefits the people.
“We are grateful that Secretary Rex Gatchalian took the time and effort to personally visit Carol-an and see the project on the ground. That willingness to go beyond reports and experience firsthand the realities faced by our communities is what we have always admired about his leadership,” she told Brigada News.
“Projects like this hanging footbridge may seem simple to some, but for families who cross rivers daily to reach schools, markets, and basic services, it can be life-changing,” Alvarez added.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.