Army tapped to build footbridge in remote village of NegOcc

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 6): Army tapped to build footbridge in remote village of NegOcc

The city government of Himamaylan in Negros Occidental province has tapped the Philippine Army’s 542nd Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB) to build a 50-meter steel hanging footbridge for the far-flung village of Mahalang.

The bridge project, which began end of August, is expected to be completed in January next year.

Lt . Col. Meliton Reyes Jr., commanding officer of the 542nd ECB, said the bridge will benefit residents of the seven sitios of Barangay Mahalang, which is located 14 km. from the city proper.

At present, residents of Sitios Suba Su-ay, Kanluki, Unit 1, Kantupa, Buyoron, Palasanan, Basak, and Alulong, whose main livelihood is farming, have to pass through an overflow bridge to reach the village proper.

The city government allocated PHP1.5 million for the project, which was formalized through the Project Partnership Agreement signed by Reyes and Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon.

“This is just the first of many projects to be implemented under our collaboration with the local government unit,” Reyes said.

Lt. Col. Arnel Cabugon, of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the partnership is the essence of the Development Support and Security Plan “Kapayapaan” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1008796