Midway into our dialogue with Caramoan municipal officials and barangay captains on Wednesday, August 16 at the covered court beside the municipal building I received a text message from DPWH Regional Director Orlando B. Roces. It said some heavy equipment to be used in one road opening section of the Caramoan coastal road were already on their way to the site and construction make could start Monday, August 21.
Because Mayor Francis Benemerito and Vice Mayor Juan Cordis, Jr. were seated beside me I immediately showed them the text message. Ecstatic that at last the long awaited physical implementation could start I took the microphone and announced the glad tidings. To my surprise, there was just a subdued reaction. I had expected everyone to instantly exult but many obviously did not know whether to already rejoice or not.
It was not until I asked if they were not happy that the coastal road they had long dreamed of and hankered for would now become a reality that the audience of over a hundred local officials burst into a long thunderous applause.
Why were some, in fact, the majority of those present in the dialogue which we requested for us to present our Balik Caramoan Project seemingly uncertain on how to meet the news that the Caramoan coastal road was already to be built?
The answer, we found out later, was simple but painful. Already categorized in the past in the tailend in the prioritization of development funds, Caramoanons were deceived not once but twice and perhaps even thrice by both government and implementors in multi-million peso projects where funds were entirely spent or collected but the projects were not completed.
They are, therefore, wary that the Caramoan coastal road could be another frustration, another deception.
In the early 1980’s a dendro thermal project was launched at barangay Hanopol reportedly with a funding of about P40 million, a big sum at that time for a government project. The Fuentebella provincial administration initiated the project intended to provide alternative energy source. Not a simple watt of electric power oozed out of the mysterious undertaking.
Today, the same barangay of Hanopol is site of another multi- million peso irrigation dam project that was supposed to be completed in December, 1998 still. Until now it is not completed and is not able to irrigate a single hectare. Estimated to cost about P87 million when started in 1994, the project has already siphoned more than P130 million of the people’s money but it is far from completed.
The Caramoan Peninsula Road itself which has been called now Gov. Felix Fuentebella Highway is one more frustrating spectacle. Although accompanied by lavish propaganda when implemented four decades ago it is still a pathetic picture of a road system that is passable only during some dry months of the year.
Yet, enormous government funds have been spent each year to upgrade and keep the road passable. Programmed routinely for regravelling, the funds inevitably just disappear as loose gravel materials are conveniently washed away especially if there is little or no materials delivery.
Oh, no, such deception cannot happen in the Caramoan coastal road. All eyes are focused on the project which is hoped to serve as legacy of President Arroyo to the Caramoan Peninsula. Not just DPWH engineers but cabinet officials are monitoring the project. The bishops have their eyes on the project.
And yes, the CRANE which ignited the multi-sectoral appeal to the President last year will be on site. It is a dream now unfolding and transforming to reality.
It will be quality road and it will be completed, through hell and high water!
