Finally, a bridge for remote Binmaley village

BINMALEY, Pangasinan — Barbara Padilla Flores, born 83 years ago and raised in the island barangay of Dupo, recalled traversing the river using a banca going to the Poblacion area.

Time was when the river was still shallow and the people would ride on a carabao to go to the other side. When motorized bancas became the means of transportation, they had to shell out extra coins to pay their fare. This was after the big 1935 and 1972 floods eroded the area and made the river deep.

Yesterday, Barbara or popularly known as Bai Baring, joined about 3,000 community folks in Dupo for the much-awaited inauguration of a bailey bridge that will make life easier for them.

"Agaylay irap mi nen saman. Maswerte ray ogogaw natan ta wala la yan taytay (We had much difficulty before. The young ones today are lucky for having this bridge)," she said.

Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr. had the 128-lineal meter bridge constructed from his P24-million Countrywide Development Fund.

Espino, Mayor Simplicio Rosario and Barangay Captain Rogelio Reyes led the inauguration of the bridge.

At the farthest end of Barangay Dupo is also a river leading to Barangay Calmay in Dagupan City. Dupo is about five kilometers away from the Poblacion area in this town.