By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Tuesday asked the help of 5th District Rep. Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in addressing road network complaints from residents, especially those in the upland barangays of the town.
The road condition is among the major concerns raised by residents in Barangay Macagahay, one of the remotest barangay in Moises Padilla, in a dialogue with Yulo before the distribution of land titles to 63 farmer-beneficiaries in the area.
Yulo led the distribution of the land titles through the Handog Titulo program of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Barangay Macagahay.
Yulo initiated the distribution in the said barangay which is about 45 minutes on rough roads, in line with the whole of nation approach of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Instead of the farmer-beneficiaries going to the town proper for the activity, she led local government officials and government agencies personnel to the area so that aside from the distribution of the land titles, they will also see the problems and concerns of upland residents.
“We have to let them feel that the government is going to help them, make them feel the presence of the government in their area,” Yulo said.
Farmers aired their concerns on the improvement of road networks especially going to their farms.
Yulo said that aside from Barangay Macagahay, other upland barangays are also beset with road network problems.
She said that the improvement of the road networks in the upland barangays is vital not only to transport their produce to the local market but for emergency purposes as well.
She said that in most of these barangays the mode of transportation is still the motorcycle known locally as habal habal.
Yulo also said that aside from the road networks in the upland barangays another major road network that needs improvement is the main road to the town proper from Barangay Crossing Magallon to Barangay Guipanaan.
The 12-kilometer provincial road needs to be converted into a national road to avail of national government funds for its improvement.
Yulo said local funds for road maintenance is not enough to address the road problems.
She said she asked Lacson to increase the funds for the maintenance of the provincial roads in the town because of fund constraints on their part.
Yulo said that land titles given to the farmer-beneficiaries covered government agricultural land that were being tilled by the farmers for decades.
