FOR the record, no other congressman in Pangasinan third district could match the achievements made by the Arenas administration.

In people’s surveys and service, the mother-and-daughter tandem has remained on top over the years.

They complement each other, doubling even the services that their constituents desperately need.

Unlike some politicians who become scarce in their district once elected into office, Reps. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas and her daughter, former Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, are of a totally different kind. They alternately make themselves available and accessible; at most times, both present and doubly ready to assist their constituents.

Be it in health, education, infrastructure like roads, bridges, school buildings, gymnasia, barangay halls, as well as farm inputs like irrigation, social services, etc. the implementation of projects is non-stop in their district.

Indeed, their record in public service will be hard to match.

No wonder, the names of Congresswomen “Baby” Arenas and Ma. Rachel Arenas have become a byword among the residents in the third district. Their esteemed names have been etched in the heart and mind of the people of Malasiqui, San Carlos City, Bayambang, Calasiao, Mapandan and Sta. Barbara.

Former Rep. Rachel Arenas (right wearing striped brown blouse), representing her mother, Pangasinan third district Rep. Rose Marie Arenas, is joined by thankful city folks of San Carlos City on Jan. 19 as they walk through the Bocboc Bridge project funded by the Department of Tourism through their initiative.

It was no plain coincidence.

The magic is in hard work and dedication to their sworn tasks. With their established connections in the corridors of power and their established ties with their influential personal friends, they go out of their way to deliver love and care for their needy constituents.

Elections or no elections, in calamity or fair weather, they reach out to the public, visiting even the remotest barangays, to assure them assistance is ready and available. They make no promises, they work and act with positive responses.

Popular for being a philanthropist long before she was elected congresswoman, Madam Baby, as she is often called, is the kind of a public servant who makes sure every one she serves goes home with a smile.

In return, people reciprocate the love of the Arenases, especially of Madam Baby, by showering them always with an overwhelming mandate through avalanche of votes.

Indeed two hearts, two heads are better than one.

From the daughter who devotedly served first as congresswoman, to the mother, who unselfishly continues the work, their kabaleyans are guaranteed public service at its best–times two!

One such of legacy of dedicated hard work is the construction of Bocboc Bridge in the boundary of San Carlos City and Aguilar town.

Thousands of residents in the most populous San Carlos City and the nearby town of Aguilar now heave a sign of relief after their long-time dream to have a bridge that connects two congressional districts of the province has been realized.

built.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) heeded the request of Pangasinan third district Rep. Rose Marie Arenas and her daughter, former Rep. Rachel Arenas, by allocating P234-million for the Bocboc Bridge.

At the San Carlos City side looking at Aguilar portion, the scenic view of Agno River and the mountains would greet residents and passersby.

Assistant District Engineer Editha Manuel of the fourth engineering district based in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan said the project started in 2012 under the term of the young Arenas. It is declared a tourism project because it is the shortest route going to Manleluag Hot Spring and Hundred Islands for those coming from the central part of Pangasinan.

Manleluag Hot Spring in Mangatarem is a 1,935-hectare forest park declared as national park in1940.

The Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City, on the other hand, is also a protected area with islands, totaling 124 at low tide and 123 at high tide, scattered in Lingayen Gulf covering an area of 16.76 square kilometers.

The concrete bridge is about 280 linear meters with eight spans at 35 meters per span amounting to P234-million but the contract amount is only P195-million, Manuel said. It is about 7.32 meters wide.

The bridge approach in San Carlos City side has been finished while at the other end which is already under the second congressional district is being constructed still through the initiative of the Arenases.

The project hit a snag earlier due to right-of-way but this has been settled and the construction will be completed in February. The project is being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the regional office due to the big amount involved.

Manuel said economic-wise, people can now transport their agricultural produce faster.

The former congresswoman, with their constituents, made a happy walk-through from end-to-end of the bridge on a sunny Tuesday (Jan. 19).

 

Once a dream, now a reality

 

“‘It has really been our dream to build this bridge,” former Congresswoman Rachel Arenas said.

She said she is thankful to President Aquino, the DOT and the DPWH for helping them make this dream fulfilled.

“We did not promise (the people) but we fulfilled their dream,” she said. She added that people were used to hearing candidates promising during election period for many years that they would work to build the bridge. As expected, these remained empty promises.”

People used to rent wooden banca (small boat) after a wooden bridge used for a year only used by people to cross the Agno River going to either San Carlos City or Aguilar town was destroyed sometime in 1962, said 63-year old Francisco Tulagan.

Barangay Captain (village head) Luis Palisoc of Bocboc, San Carlos City, the host barangay, told The PUNCH that for the longest time, his constituents were already hopeless in having a concrete bridge built. His barangay is isolated from Bocboc West, Aguilar town, which is about two and a half kilometers away only from his barangay because of the Agno River that separates the two barangays.

The distance from his barangay to the city proper in San Carlos is about 11 kilometers, thus his barangaymates would prefer to go to Aguilar than to the city proper.

“Our senior citizens would tell us, stop hoping that concrete bridge would be built. But our congresswoman proved them wrong,” Palisoc said.

Barangay Captain Agerico Abalos of Bogaoan said when materials for the bridge construction arrived, his constituents were surprised. “They started to believe, it is now a reality,” he said.

He said travel to Manila using this route coming from their barangay would be easier and faster because after Aguilar comes Mangatarem and Camiling in Tarlac.

Rogelio Dumlao of Barangay Salinap said he remembered how his father would ride a banca while he would hold the cows he bought from Aguilar that traversed by swimming the Agno River.

Also, high school students would prefer to enroll in Aguilar than in other national high schools in other barangays in San Carlos City because of the shorter distance of travel.

Nida Macaraeg said people’s lives would no longer be endangered by braving a banca ride even during storms or when river current is strong, just to go to Aguilar to buy their needs.

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