The DPWH Abra District Engineering Office (DEO) maintained in 2014 the top place for the Road-Right-of-Way Enhancement Program of Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Administrative Region.
Director Edilberto P. Carabbacan said that Abra DEO bested nine (9) other DEOs of the region with its entry at the Nagbalitangan section along Abra-Cervantes Road. Apayao 2nd DEO also defended its second rank with the Muslim Section 2 along Claveria-Calanasan Road as entry while Ifugao 2nd DEO took the third place with its entry along Banaue-Hungduan Road.
All entries of the DEOs are commendable since they are creatively made with indigenous materials and each has its own distinct uniqueness but Abra DEO’s entry had an edge over the others having driftwood and stones from the forest as materials. The gazebo is set and built beside a river where fishing can be done on a raft below. Apayao 2nd DEO’s entry is set at a mountain side sprawling beside a water falls and Ifugao 2nd DEO’s entry is strategically linked by a bridge over a flowing river. Barks of ferns were carved as arches and birds and were used as steps leading to the gazebo.
The program, now in its second year of implementation, is in consonance with the thrust of the Department to clear the Road Right-of-Way (RROW) from encroachments, free from illegal settlers and other obstructions. The “pocket gardens” will provide weary travellers a rest area, serving as stop-overs from their long trips, Carabbacan added.
Judging was done by the region’s RROW monitoring team who made quarterly visits to the all the entries, gave ratings and additional points for innovations and improvements for each particular quarter.
It can be recalled that in the CY 2013 RROW Enhancement Program, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places went to Abra DEO, Apayao 2nd DEO and Mt. Province DEO, respectively.