Sta. Fe farm-to-market road gets inaugurated

Community officials and residents of barangay Ocoy in Santa Fe town, Bantayan Island witnessed yesterday the realization of their request with the inauguration of a 2.140-kilometer farm-to-market road.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. inaugurated the said road during their visit to Santa Fe yesterday.

Ocoy barangay captain Domingo Escaran, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said "Kaniadto pwerteng aboga sa dalan kay wala pa man na-aspalto. Karon hanoy na kaayo ang pagpadagan sa sakyanan tungod sa nindot nga dalan."

Provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre, meanwhile, said that the 2.140-kilometer road asphalting is just part of the 13.140-kilometer road asphalting works for the entire Bantayan Island road project worth P28.775 million.

The money was appropriated from the provincial funds, Pelayre added.

Speaking during the inauguration, Garcia joked about her loss in the gubernatorial race in the area but that despite such, she has set aside politics in reaching out to Bantayanons after local officials asked for her help.

"Ang among gihimo kaninyo wala'y bahid pamolitika. Kami nanumpa kaninyo nga mangalagad kaninyo bisan pilde ako diri," Garcia said, which had drawn applauses and laughter from over a hundred residents who attended the inauguration in barangay Ocoy.

After the inauguration of the Ocoy road, Garcia and Sanchez attended the fifth Palawod Festival in Bantayan, handing over to Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario a check worth P200,000 as financial assistance.

The Palawod festival was established in June 2001 in homage to Saint Peter, who himself was a fisherman.

Bantayan is known for the abundance of fish in the area, which entices townsfolk to go "palawod", meaning "to set out to sea".

Yesterday's activity was also attended by Santa Fe Mayor Roger Illustrisimo, Madridejos Mayor Letty Mancio and some department heads.

Today, Garcia and Sanchez are set to inspect and inaugurate the 3-kilometer road in barangay Maricaban, also in Santa Fe; the 4-kilometer road in barangay Sillion, Bantayan proper, and 4-kilometer San Agustin Road in Madridejos. - Garry B. Lao