President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Charge d' Affaires of Japan Hidenobu Sobashima led the inauguration of the Las Navas Bridge under the “Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP)” on June 16, 2009 in Barangay Rebong, Las Navas, Northern Samar.
The HCAAP is a collaborative project for agricultural and rural development by the Provincial Government of Northern Samar, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the municipalities of Catubig and Las Navas. The Project started in 2002 and will be fully completed in 2010. The ODA Loan from Japan totalling 5,210 million Yen or approximately 2,565 million Pesos is extended for this project.
The HCAAP is an project designed to promote sustainable agricultural and economic development in the Catubig Valley by raising the income level of farmers, generating new employment opportunities as well as improving the social infrastructure and services of the 71 barangays in Catubig and Las Navas municipalities. The components of the project include: irrigation and drainage construction under the NIA, civil works such as construction of roads between farms and markets and bridges handled by DPWH, schistosomiasis control under Department of Health Region 8, agricultural support services by DA, and institutional development and procurement of equipment by LGU Northern Samar.
The Las Navas Bridge is one of the components of the HCAAP. The bridge, which has a span of 121.35 meters, will shorten the travel time from the municipality of Sta. Fe to Catubig from three hours to around thirty minutes. Particularly, the activities of the farmers and fishermen in the area will be enhanced due to the better road conditions and the better accessibility to major road networks.
The Government of Japan has assisted the efforts of the Philippine Government to attain food security and develop the transportation sector, among others, in line with President Arroyo's 10-point agenda. Japan is the Philippines ' largest source of ODA and has been a long-time partner in various sectors including transportation and agriculture for more than five decades.
Japanese Version
