Leyte gov’t mulls building trading center in upland village

BURAUEN, Leyte, July 11 (PNA) -– The Leyte provincial government is pushing for the establishment of a trading center for farm products in an upland area here to curb poverty in this town’s 17 villages.

Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said they will complete the construction of farm-to-market roads linking Calao village and nearby areas for easier transport of products.

“Now that almost all bridges have been built, the concentration is the construction of roads. This year, we have allocated about PHP10 million for this area,” Petilla said.

The local government has requested a PHP60-million funding for road construction from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), a flagship project of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Calao village is near the Burauen-Albuera Road, newly-declared national highway that will link northern Leyte and western Leyte. The Department of Public and Highways (DPWH) has yet to complete works for the Albuera side of the road network.

Once completed, it will be a alternative route from Tacloban City to Ormoc City and Baybay City.

“This is in the center of several barangays (villages). We design this place as a trading center. One of the plans is to build a cold storage for fresh products,” Petilla said.

“There is an ongoing consultation with the private sector to solicit suggestions. We’re trying to consult if they are willing to come and invest.”

The area, composed of 17 villages, has been identified by the local government as priority areas for organic farming, producing high value commercial crops.

These villages are Calao, Anonang, Damulo-an, Buenavista, Patag, Roxas, Villa Aurora, Tagadtaran, San Fernando, Abuyogon, Takin, Caanislagan, Matin-ao, Dina-ayan, Esperanza, Villa Corazon, and Catagbakan.

“The plan is very commendable since our products won’t be damaged from transporting to commercial centers,” said Calao village chief Noel Rellesiva.

Key provincial government officials visited this town over the weekend to inaugurate two bridges, a spillway and a birthing clinic.

The two bridges had a combined cost of PHP15 million, the spillway got a funding of PHP499,386 while the birthing center is PHP3.17 million.

The community is about 18 kilometers away from the town center and 56 kilometers away southwest from Tacloban City, the regional capital. (PNA)

LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO