ILOILO – Residents of the remote Barangay Agsirab in Lambunao, Iloilo are now assured of safe travel especially during rainy days. With the completion of a 127-meter hanging bridge, they also now have easy access to the market for their products.
The P4.98-million bridge was inaugurated on July 10. At 127 linear meters, it is the longest hanging bridge in the province.
Barangay Agsirab is some 20 kilometers away from the town’s poiblacion.
The bridge was funded under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI – CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with a counterpart from the local government.
“The bridge connects the sitios (hamlets) to the main road. Without that hanging bridge, they have to cross the river which is too dangerous during rainy days,” said Lambunao’s Mayor Reynor Gonzales.
The new hanging bridge serves around 2,000 residents of the barangay.
Gonzales said without the bridge, it was difficult for residents to bring their products to the market.
Lambunao, particularly Barangay Agsirab, is not just into farming but also planting root crops.
If the residents have no access to transportation, they could not find a good price for their products since they still have to incur expenses due to high production and transportation costs, Gonzales.
“The hanging bridge will serve as a connector to make it faster for people living in sitios to bring their products to the market,” the mayor added.
There used to be a hanging bridge in the village but it was destroyed by typhoon “Frank” in 2008.
Without the bridge, it would also be difficult in case there are emergencies, he said.
The blessing and inauguration was graced by DSWD regional officers led by Assistant Regional Director Delia Bagolcol and local officials of Lambunao led by Gonzales and Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria and other village officials. (PNA/PN)
