By Dominic I.
Sanchez
BONGAO,
Tawi-Tawi – Being residents in far-flung areas does not mean
that access to government services should equally be as far. Tawi-Tawi is one
example of a steadily progressing province, given its geographical location.
In his
message to about 1,500 residents of Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province in the
Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III emphasized that it is more reason
for government to be closer to them.
“Hindi
poibigsabihinnamagingmalayona din angmga boss saserbisyo ng gobyerno,” (This
doesn’t mean that the bosses will also be far from the services of government)
President Aquino emphasized.
“KahitsaansaPilipinas,
sa Luzon, Visayas o Mindanao, kung anoangkailangan ng mga boss,
yunangdapatnatingtugunan,” (wherever the bosses are in the Philippines, in
Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao, whatever it is they need, the government should
provide) he added.
President
Aquino visited Tawi-Tawi on October 3 to inspect the
progress of the almost-completed Sanga-Sanga-Lapid-Lapid bridge network. The
bridge, when completed will link the farms in mainland PanglimaSugala to the
province’s trade center in Bongao.
The President
shared that the three bridges are a product of the local government’s
persistence to have Tawi-Tawi’s dream realized. Earlier, Governor NurbertSahali
lobbied for this project from President Aquino.
“The governor
was diligent enough to provide me with a very thorough study outlining the
plans for the bridges,” President Aquino said. The project costs roughly about
Php450-million. “I told him then that we had to save up,” the President
quipped.
According to
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Rogelio Singson, the road
and bridge access network project started in 2013, and when completed, will run
for about 115 kilometers. He added that the entire project will be “finished by
2016.”
Meanwhile,
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Sec. Joseph Abaya shared
that the Tawi-Tawi airport will eventually expand its runway, adding that there
will already be flights from Cebu to Tawi-Tawi and vice-versa. “This will boost
economic activities here,” Sec. Abaya said.
Meanwhile, Department
of Energy (DOE) Sec. ZenaidaMonsada shared that the President had committed
100% energization of all sitios in the province. “As of recent, we are already
80% energized,” Sec. Monsada said.
According to
former Governor SadikulSahali, the realization of the projects, to include the
Tawi-Tawi airport had enabled the province to become the lead exporter of
cassava. On the other hand, Governor NurbertSahali looks forward to a more
promising, more developed future for the province, once all needed projects are
realized with the help of the Aquino administration.
Civil society
leaders have also expressed their gratitude to President Aquino. Sr.
RitaflorServidad of a Tawi-Tawi-based non-government organization shared that
people’s struggles in transportation have been uplifted after infrastructure
projects have been poured in.
“Our
sincerest gratitude to our President to have made our dream come true,” Gov.
Sahali said.
