For residents of Barangay California, Barotac Viejo, a bridge is more than just a passage way. It is also their main connection to spell development.

Few years ago, they are faced with their biggest problem, there was no bridge. They could hardly transport their produce to the market though they have bountiful harvest of rice, and vegetables, such as eggplants, bitter gourd locally known as ampalaya, squash and okra.  Farming and vegetable growing are the main source of livelihood in the barangay.

The farmers could not sell their produce to the town proper especially during rainy season when Cayo River cuts through Sitio Alang-alang and Sitio Kalabasahan. It became impassable and risky for the residents to cross the other side of the place. They have to deal with the raging current of the river.

In 2001, the community made a bamboo bridge connecting Sitio Alang-alang to Sitio Kalabasahan. However, the makeshift bridge weathered easily. It needs to the repaired constantly.

Farmer Fermin Reales recalled how difficult it was for them to transport their produce safely and unblemished. 

“Sang una na budlayan gid kami kay kada mag-ulan hindi na namon madala ang amon produkto sa banwa. Ang kawayan namon nga bridge, makitid lang siya kag wala uluyatan. Kon mag-ulan na gani, ga karadanlog na ang mga galaktod didto. Kaagi ako na gani nga na danlog kag nag kalahulog akon mga inugbaligya, maayo lang wala ako nahulog sa suba kay kusog na to ang tubi. Wala naman bi iban na alagyan nga malapit kay kon malibot pa kami sa pihak na barangay, isa ka oras gd amon nga lakton para lang kalab-ot ang produkto namon sa tinda sang California

(It was very difficult before because every time it rains, we could not bring our products to the town center. Our bamboo bridge was very narrow and it had no railings. When it rained, the people would usually slip and fall. I experienced slipping there and all produce which to be sold in the market fell to the water. It was a good thing that I didn’t fall into the river because the current was very strong. There is no other route because if we opt to take the longer route it would take us an hour of walking in the other barangay so we can get to the market in California),” he said.

The community also brought their concerns before the barangay officials of California on the need for a concrete structure.  They dreamt of having a sturdy bridge, where they can transport their products any time of the day and even if the water level in Cayo River is high.

In 2016, the community were given an opportunity to identify their basic infrastructure need for Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) funding.

They prioritized the construction of a foot bridge. A community grant of P539,000 was provided to the community for the construction of 280 linear-meters concrete foot bridge.

Barangay Captain Kelly Banes said he was very supportive of the plan of his people to construct a bridge couple of years ago. However, because of the insufficient funds of the community, they have to contend with the bamboo bridge.

“Kulang gid ang kwarta sang barangay para sa pagpa-obra sang taytay para sa mga pumuluyo. Maayo lang sa bulig sang Kalahi-CIDSS nataga-an kami sang tsansa nga maka-agom sang amo ni nga proyekto. Nag-ugyon gid ang mga taga-barangay, labi na gid ang mga Sitio Alang-alang. Tanan nga pumuluyo naghatag sang ila suporta kag bulig (The budget of the barangay for the construction of this bridge for the residents was not enough. It was only through Kalahi-CIDSS that we were given a chance to receive such a project. The whole barangay, especially the people from Sitio Alang-alang, all united and gave their help and support),” said Banes.

In January 25, 2016, the construction of the concrete bridge started. The community pooled themselves and helped in anything they could.

The households in Sitio Alang-alang took turns in preparing snacks and food for the volunteers. They also cleaned up the river of the debris generated during the construction to avoid obstruction in the water ways.

The bridge became fully functional on March 19, 2016 and it was turned over to the farmers’ association for maintenance. Yearly the barangay allots P10,000 for this project. Jose Fernandez heads the operation and maintenance committee.

“Kada bulan ginalantaw namon ang kondisyon sang amon nga taytay. Kada makakita kami sang mga crack, ginatabunan lang namon siya sang semento. Kon mag-ulan ang mga pumuluyo man lang nagapaninlo sang mga nagkalahulog na dahon halin sa mga puno para lang hindi magbara sa alagyan sang tubi (Every month we evaluate the condition of the bridge. Every time we see cracks, we fill them up with cement. When it rains, the residents are the ones who clean the leaves that have fallen so that it doesn’t clog the water ways),” he said.

Fernandez stated that it improved their source of livelihood because transportation is very efficient since they no longer need to transport their goods by foot across the river. Goods are no longer wasted since each product is delivered safely to the marketplace.

Rain or shine, business does not stop the folks in Sitio Alang-alang since now they are connected by a bridge that serves more than just an easier pathway for them but a hope for a more productive future.#