REVILLA JOINS LANG-AY FESTIVAL, URGED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ON HALSEMA MAINTENANCE

In the spirit of the Lang-ay Festival, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. called on the people of Mountain Province to value their benefits from the multi- billion peso Halsema Highway through community participation on its maintenance.

The senator today (April 7) delivered a message during the program for the Lang-ay Festival, the annual cultural event commemorating the charter anniversary of the province. The program was held at the Eyeb Open Gym, Bontoc where he bared the highlander crowd that the on-going improvement of the Halsema Highway is one of the infrastructure projects in the country being monitored by his committee, the Senate Committee on Public Works.

"Patuloy din po tayong nagbabantay laban sa katiwalian sa pamahalaan. Sa pamamagitan ng pagkilatis sa mga kontrata at pag-inspeksyon sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno ay napipigilan natin ito. Masugid pa natin itong nilalabanan dahil ito ay anay na pumipigil sa ating kaunlaran," he assured.

Revilla stressed that the rehabilitation of the 85- kilometer highway will shorten travel time and this will benefit the people of Mountain Province in terms of delivery of goods and tourism. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the improvement of the Halsema Highway from gravel to portland cement concrete pavement type will decrease travel time to Baguio to Bontoc from six hours and thirty minutes to three hours and from Bontoc to Tuguegarao from five hours and thirty minutes to three hours. The second phase of the Halsema Highway , the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao section, is set to be completed next year. Already finished is the first phase of the project, the Mt.Data-Bontoc-Banaue section. In a press statement, the lawmaker pointed out that while the said highway is being reconstructed through the use of high standard materials, proper maintenance would guarantee that it will last long and worth the billions of pesos spent on it.

Revilla cited as example the overloading of trucks that should be strictly prohibited to protect the stability of the road. "Even how develop it is, the strength of a road should not be measured beyond its limits. Too much cargo may bring more profit but it in the long run, we will all suffer when the road gives in," he said.

He also suggested civic monitoring of the drainage system of the highway. "We must report clogged drainage particularly those caused by fallen rocks. If we can not take it off, we must inform the concerned authorities for them to fix it. The highway pavement will surely weaken if it is always wet," Revilla said.

"Lang-ay means oneness. Let us also practice this spirit not only during the festival. We must all be one in ensuring that this road will last longer," he added.

Before going to Bontoc, Revilla visited the orphans at the Good News Fellowship Orphanage in First Road, Quezon Hill, Baguio City .