By Manny Piñol
The request to visit Mapanas town in Northern Samar was made by Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvennido Tejano in our many conversations starting from the day we met last year.
His son, Francis John, a lawyer, is the mayor of the town and he was telling me about the potentials of the town both for fisheries and also for tourism.
Everyday during the Tuna fishing season, the fishermen of Mapanas which faces the Pacific Ocean, catch could take home no less than two to three huge Tunas, Ambassador Tejano told me.
The problem is that they do not have an ice plant or a cold storage, thus the catch is immediately sent to Tacloban City which is about 6 hours away by land transportation where it is sold at a very low price.
“Please visit our town and help us,” Ambassador Tejano virtually begged me.
So, on Tuesday, April 10, I decided to take the trip along with members of the Biyaheng Bukid Team.
Landing in Catarman at about 8:30 a.m. using a small plane borrowed from President Rody Duterte’s friend, Archie Po, we proceeded to Mapanas by sailing through the huge Catubig River.
Catubig River separates the Pacific towns of Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay from the rest of Northern Samar.
To reach Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay from the Northern Samar Capital of Catarman, one could take the river boats or speed boats which would take about an hour before docking in Palapag.
When transporting huge cargoes which could not be loaded in the river boats, the route is to go through Tacloban City and travel down to Eastern Samar then back up North to the tip of the the island to be able to reach Mapanas and Palapag.
Mapanas and Palapag are virtually at the end of the highway going up north and the only way they could be connected to their capital town of Catarman is by building a bridge which would cross the Catubig River.
Ambassador Tejano said the bridge has long been a dream of the people of his town but lamented the fact that things have moved so slow in his home province.
Yesterday, with my visit, the people of Mapanas, Palapag and Gamay expressed hope that things will change and move faster under the administration of President Duterte.
(Video taken by Mayette Tudlas, OSEC.)
https://fb.watch/aP03y3FRgM/
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