ILOILO – A “dream come true.”
This was how Mayor Rolito Cajilig described the newly inaugurated hanging steel footbridge straddling the river in Barangay Oluangan, Leon town.
Now, residents of six villages no longer have to dangerously cross the river, mostly especially during bad weather, he said.
The P4.49-million 80-linear-meter footbridge, formally opened on April 21, is now being used by residents of Oluangan, Pa-oy, Bulad, Magcapay, Awis, and Ligtos.
Villagers have long wished for a bridge over the river, Cajilig told Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. during the inauguration.
The Provincial Engineers’ Office constructed the footbridge. Funding came from the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Cajilig said the bridge would spur the development of the six barangays. It would now be easy for people to bring their produce from the farm to the market in the town center, he said.
But more important, he said, is the safety of the people, especially schoolchildren.
“Ginatuhog ang kurason namon nga makita ang kabudlay nila, labi na kon tag-ulolan kag magbaha. That’s why ang iban sa Barangay Oluangan indi na kakadto sa banwa tungod sa baha,” said Cajilig.
For his part, Defensor said he knew how difficult it was for the people of the six barangays to travel prior to the bridge’s construction.
“I grew up in the farm. Taga-Mina ako. Ka-intindi ako ka kabuhi sang taga-uma kon ano kabudlay magtabok-tabok sa suba,” said Defensor.
He added: “Ang naluoyan ko gid ang mga bata nga naga-eskwela. Bisan daganas pilit nila nga ginatabok. Damo na ang nagakalumos sa bilog nga probinsya bangod sang pagtabok sa suba. Amo na nga prayoridad ko gid ang mga taytay kag hanging bridges.”/PN
