Agrarian Reform Sec. John Castriciones 4th District Rep. Maricel Nagaño (2nd from left), Palayan City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas (extreme left) and Peñaranda Vice Mayor Ofelia Manayao cut ceremonial ribbon opening the San Mariano-Barrio Militar bridge. Contributed photo
PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija – Two bridges under the Tulay ng Pangulo program were formally opened to benefit residents and farmers in several villages in this municipality on Tuesday.
Agrarian Reform Sec. John Castriciones, led the inauguration of San Mariano-Barrio Militar and Diwalaan bridges.
San Mariano-Barrio Militar Bridge is a 40.20-linear meter bridge connecting this municipality to Palayan City, the provincial capital.
Diwalaan Bridge in the boundaries of Barangays Las Piñas and Sinasajan spans 17.20 linear meters.
Castriciones said the brides were constructed through the collaboration among DAR, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the local government under the Tulay ng Pangulo Program as a support to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The completed projects have combined cost of P14.11 million financed through the foreign-assisted projects, he said.
The DPWH, he explained, was the implementing agency while the LGU-Penaranda takes care of the bridges’ sustainability, operation, and maintenance.
According to the provincial agrarian reform office, about 566 agrarian reform beneficiaries tending some 1,621 hectares of government-distributed lands will benefit from the projects.
The bridges were also projected to uplift the economic well-being of at least 8,747 residents from the villages of San Mariano, Las Piñas, and Sinasajan aside from regular commuters crossing to Palayan City and neighboring places.
“While the pandemic forces us to keep distance from each other, these bridges bring us closer,” Castriciones said as he underscored the undisputed role played by farmers and other agriculture stakeholders to keep food in every table during the health crisis.
The secretary and some of his undersecretaries were joined by Nueva Ecija 4th District Rep. Maricel Nagaño, Palayan City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas, and Peñaranda officials led by Vice Mayor Ofelia Manayao during the inauguration.
