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Virac Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos, D. D., (left) a native of Caramoan and a CRANE member, listens intently as Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte pledges to secure initial funding for the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road at the CRANE induction ceremonies on December 30, 2005. The solon succeeded in getting P29.5 million aside from P50 million initially secured by Governor Villafuerte. Exactly one month later on January 30, 2006 Bicol bishops in a dialogue with President Arroyo presented once again the CRANE petition for the coastal road through Bishop de los Santos during which the President assured that the project would be implemented.

The pivotal task of getting funding allocation for the Presentacion-Caramoan Coastal road remained firmly in the hands of government leaders led by Governor L-Ray Villafuerte especially since he is Chairman of the Regional Development Council for the Bicol Region and also Chairman of the Luzon Area Development Coordinating Council. But the long and arduous process of getting Malacañang to know why the people genuinely clamored for the completion of the project and consolidating support for the crucial undertaking was a role that indisputably belonged to the CRANE. For one whole year the organization mainly through its president, Dominador Alarkon, Jr., and several officers traveled and appealed to government leaders and non-government groups in Camarines Sur and Catanduanes up to Manila in relentless pursuit of the objective.

In endorsing the CRANE petition on April 18, 2005, Governor Villafuerte even cited CRANE: “It is noteworthy that a socio-civic organization has taken the lead in marshalling public support for this project which is certain to provide tremendous boost to our development effort not only for the Caramoan Peninsula but the province of Catanduanes as well. It is indicative of the degree of private sector involvement and participation in the development exercise here in my province.”

In his endorsement of the CRANE petition, Catanduanes Governor Leandro Verceles, Jr. also said: “This initiative of a socio-civic organization such as CRANE dramatizes the involvement of the people in effective of the people in effective governance.”

February 19, 2005 – On the First General Assembly of the newly resuscitated CRANE held at the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Naga City CRANE president Dominador Alarkon, Jr. was lavishly applauded as he announced that the organization will endeavor to appeal to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to finish the Presentacion–Caramoan Coastal road.

The response signaled the pervading sentiments of Caramoanons manifested as early as 1992 when construction work on the project was abandoned and Caramoan municipal officials and community leaders petitioned the new congressman then but received no encouragement.

He emphasized that it would jibe with the tourism development program of Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte and the roll on–roll off project linking Catanduanes to San Vicente, Caramoan, a project of Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles, Jr. The coastal road is 25 kilometers shorter than the existing mountain road or in actual travel time shorter by one and a half hours, and would avoid winding rough mountain roads beside deep ravines.

CRANE officers had to meet 20 times and the general assembly was to be convened five times over a one-year period discussing primarily the Presentacion–Caramoan coastal road.

March 12, 2005 – In a meeting at the San Isidro, Naga City Farm of Executive Vice President Dr. Dolly Roa Perez, CRANE officers pass a resolution addressed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo formally requesting that the Presentacion – Caramoan coastal road be finished to accelerate development of tourism, mineral, marine and agricultural potentials in the Caramoans Peninsula.

March 15, 2005 – CRANE officers commence campaign for support endorsements from government leaders and NGOs in Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.

March 21, 2005 – Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte endorses the CRANE resolution at the same time pledging to file a bill converting the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road into a national road.

March 21, 2005 – Caramoan Senior Citizens Federation endorses the CRANE resolution.

March 22, 2005 – United High School Alumni Association endorses the CRANE resolution. March 21-25, 2005 – Caramoan municipal officials, barangay captains, community and business leaders, professionals and student numbering more than 500 led by Mayor Francis Benemerito and Vice Mayor Juan Cordis, Jr. endorse the CRANE resolution through a manifesto.

March 24, 2005 – CRANE officers travel to Catanduanes to appeal for support and promptly receive the endorsement of Governor Leandro Verceles, Jr. The group also receives assurance of support from Mrs. Nimfa Aldea–Santiago, mother of Congressman Joseph Santiago who was not in Catanduanes at that time.

April 4, 2005 – CRANE officers brief Undersecretary Tomasito Monson, Presidential Assistant for Bicol Affairs, on the Presentacion – Caramoan coastal road. CRANE president Alarkon also explained that as soon as sufficient endorsements are mustered CRANE would submit the petition to the President through undersecretary Monson.

April 12, 2005 – Catanduanes clergy led by Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos, D.D. endorses the CRANE petition.

April 15, 2005 – Congressman Felix R. Alfelor, Jr. endorses the CRANE resolution. In his endorsement, Congressman Alfelor said that completion of the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road will perk up the tourism industry in the Caramoan Peninsula with spillover effects in all four districts of the province.

April 18, 2005 – Governor L-Ray Villafuerte endorses the CRANE resolution saying that improvement of the road system to Caramoan has been a priority concern of his administration. He added that it was noteworthy that a socio-civic organization has taken the lead in marshalling public support for the project.

April 20, 2005 – CRANE petition is formally submitted to Malacañang through Undersecretary Tomasito Monson.

May 6, 2005 – At the CRANE awarding ceremonies for Caramoanon priests, CRANE president Alarkon announces that Congressman Villafuerte has filed a bill converting the Presentacion–Caramoan coastal road to a national road.

May 20, 2005 – CRANE officers travel to Catanduanes for the second time to solicit more support for the petition. Congressman Joseph Santiago assures Alarkon that he was supporting the move and that he would vote for the bill filed by Congressman Villafuerte. Virac Mayor Cito Alberto also pledges to support the CRANE initiative.

May 27, 2005 – The Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) headed by William Concepcion endorses the CRANE petition to President Arroyo during the South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLABC) held at the Convention Center at the Provincial Capitol Complex.

June – August 2005 – CRANE drums up media support for the Presentacion–Caramoan coastal road public through radio-tv interviews and present media citing the urgency and necessity for the project.

September 3, 2005 – CRANE president Alarkon announces at the 3rd CRANE general assembly at the Bicol College of Arts and Trade that Undersecretary Monson had informed him that the project would be included in a loan package for foreign assistance by the DPWH.

Alarkon said the loan package would be necessary for the concreting phase but the organization would continue to push for immediate re-opening of the project in 2006.

December 3, 2005 – At the 4th CRANE general assembly at BCAT, it was announced that the bill filed by Congressman Villafuerte converting the Presentacion – Caramoan coastal road to national road had been passed in the House of Representatives.

December 30, 2005 – As guest speaker at the CRANE induction ceremonies at the Naga Central School II Pavilion, Congressman Villafuerte pledges to secure an initial funding of at least P10 million to start the Presentacion- Caramoan coastal road.

January 14, 2006 – Congressman Villafuerte requests the DPWH Regional Office to prepare work programs for the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road for about P30 million for his funding request.

January 18, 2006 – DPWH Regional Director Orlando Roces dispatches a survey team to the project area necessary to come up with the work programs requested by Congressman Villafuerte. The team was to also determine if an entirely coastal route as requested by the CRANE president was feasible.

January 26, 2006 – Virac Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos called up the CRANE president to inform him that after the CBCP conference that week Bicol bishops would have dinner with the President in Malacañang on January 30, 2006. He said they would present the CRANE petition once again to the President and asks for copies of all CRANE documents related to the petition.

January 29, 2006 – CRANE president rushes to Manila with three folders of documents, including pictures of Caramoan tourism potentials and the initial DPWH work programs for P29.5 million for the Bicol bishops to present to President Arroyo at the January 30, 2006 Malacañang dinner.

January 30, 2006 – A jubilant Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos, D.D. informs the CRANE president at 11:30 p.m. at his hotel in Manila that the President assured him and Bicol Bishops that the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road would be pursued. Present during the dialogue were Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Congressman Joey Salceda and then Budget Secretary Romulo Neri. In the dialogue, Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi. O.P.D.D. was represented by Bishop Jose Rojas, Jr. Other bishops present were Bishops Benjamin Almoneda, Nestor Cariño, Arturo Bastes, Joel Baylon and Jose Sorra. The bishops applauded and profusely thanked the President for acceding to the request presented by Bishop de los Santos.

January 31, 2006 - President Arroyo issues a memorandum to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. and DBM Secretary Romulo Neri to facilitate release of funding.

January 31, 2006 – Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor informs Congressman Villafuerte through a letter that the President had directed DBM and DPWH to facilitate fund release for the project which he had strongly endorsed and also mentions that Bishop de los Santos submitted to the President the work programs for P29.5 million.

February 2, 2006 – President Arroyo announces here in Camarines Sur that she was allocating P500 million for the repair of the Andaya Highway and part for the Caramoan road. Governor Villafuerte who was with her when she made the announcement convinces the President to make a categorical allocation of P250 million for the Caramoan road network.

February 27, 2006 – Congressman Villafuerte is furnished a copy of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for P29.5 million for the Presentacion – Caramoan coastal road which he specifically requested.
Governor L-Ray Villafuerte is also furnished a copy of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for P50 million for the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road.

March 14, 2006 – At the Golden Sacerdotal Anniversary of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in Cebu City Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos, who is also a bonafide CRANE member, thanked President Arroyo for her prompt release of funds for the coastal road project. The President asked: “Nagsimula na ba?”, to which the Bishop answered that bidding would already be held very soon according to the DPWH Regional Office after site surveys are completed.

	The laborious task of gathering support for the CRANE petition extended as far as Catanduanes since residents from the island province stand to benefit from the coastal road once the RORO project linking Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes to San Vicente, Caramoan is completed. At left CRANE officers meet in Virac with Dr. Gloria Tabuzo (4th from left), Catanduanes provincial administrator. At right, the group gets the assurance of support from Mrs. Nimfa Aldea-Santiago, mother of Congressman Joseph Santiago.