DILG turns-over new bridge to Southern Leyte government

By ARNEL M. AGABE
February 26, 2007

MAASIN, Southern Leyte  –  Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Y. Lerias , through her daughter Dondeth Lerias, expressed her constituencies' gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo  for the newly constructed Esperanza Bridge in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.

The lady governor extended her appreciation during the Blessing and Turnover Ceremony on February 20 held in Barangay Esperanza I attended by local officials, DILG central and regional officials, representatives of other government agencies and local folks.

Director Paisal Abutazil of the DILG Office of Project Development Services (DILG OPDS), together with DILG 8 Regional Director William C. Paler and DILG Southern Leyte Provincial Director Juan Badocdoc, represented Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno during the said momentous occasion.

Lerias then appealed to the people of Esperanza I and other nearby barangays that will benefit from the bridge to help in maintaining and protecting the bridge. She added that the Esperanza Bridge will benefit not only Barangay Esperanza I but also six other barangays. She added that the bridge was constructed to bring about economic growth and development in the countryside.

Director Abutazil, in his keynote speech, congratulated the people of Southern Leyte for having displayed the much-needed unity that led to the successful construction of the bridge. He said that the bridge serves as a symbol of a successful partnership between the national government, local governments, communities and the Austrian Government.

"Building bridges, as the saying goes, is better than building walls," Director Abutazil emphasized, "and let us be bridge-builders rather than wall-builder and bring about unity and progress in our respective localities."

The Esperanza Bridge is the sixth bridge in Southern Leyte that was erected under the President's Bridge Program (PBP) and during the administration of Governor Lerias. Among the six provinces in Region 8, Southern Leyte is the best performing province as far as PBP is concerned.