Human life beyond risk takes the face of a concrete infrastructure with the construction and completion of a strong bridge on a killer river in a mountainous area in Tubigon. Apart from the safety it provides to the uphill settlers crossing the treacherous river, the bridge presents a vital sign of life to the rural economy which movement it can hasten. The essential infrastructure is yet to be inaugurated, but Tubigon residents, particularly those in upland barangay Ubojan where the bridge is built, generously thanked this early Rep. Edgar Chatto. Chatto allocated P13 million to fund the construction of Ubojan bridge to avoid a repeat of the tragedy involving three school kids who perished in a flashflood years ago. The victims, all children of a lowly farmer, were crossing the river on their way to Ubojan Elementary School one fateful morning when sudden, violent floodwaters flushed them to death. There was once a wooden bridge in the place. It had long collapsed. Children from nearby barangays like Talenceras, Tan-awan and Cawayanan would also go to the grade school in Ubojan, thereby crossing the same river at a great risk in the absence of a bridge.

The barangay leaders, with the support of the municipal government, thus asked Chatto for funding to build the concrete bridge. Accompanied by Mayor Luna Piezas, Chatto then went to the project site as soon as he had the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) issued by Sec. Rolando Andaya of the Department of Budget and Management. Agriculture, being their main source of livelihood in the area, folks can finally save time, cost and effort in bringing their farm goods to the plains and markets through the concrete bridge in a short-cut route. Chatto, together with Provincial Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II, returned to Ubojan and inspected the finished structure last week. The congressman also went to the municipal hall where he was invited to the meeting of the Liga ng mga Barangay. (Ven rebo Arigo)