By LIWAY C. MANANTAN-YPARRAGUIRRE

THE seven-day vacation we spent at my husband’s hometown (Carrascal, Surigao del Sur) was a welcome respite for the body and mind.

Life was relaxed, the environment free from air and noise pollution, no traffic (and no newspaper to read but i didn’t mind).

The three of us (me, Allan and Leila), together with all Allan’s uncles Rolie and Carlito Yparraguirre, travelled back to Manila last July 19.

Thank you very much to Carrascal Mayor Alfred Arreza, our journey from Carrascal to Surigao City (Surigao del Norte) where we took our flight to Manila was far more relaxed and enjoyable as compared to our travel earlier from Surigao City to Carrascal on board a public utility van.

There was only one Air Philippines flight to Manila. We were on the same flight with Mayor Arreza who was going to Manila for a meeting.

The three-hour Carrascal-Surigao City trip is far shorter than travelling from Dagupan City to Manila. It seemed longer, however, because of the unpaved road.

The mayor said its concreting was awarded actually three years ago to a contractor based in Manila, if i’m not mistaken to the construction firm of Regis Romero, but nothing happened. The contractor was too slow to move, thus, it was nullified and the fund reverted to the national treasury.

Sayang, the budget was ready. Now, the Surigaonons will wait again for time, the open ended pagdating ng panahon.

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I had a chat with Mayor Arreza while we were waiting for the delayed flight. And these i learned from him.

Carrrascal is a 4th class municipality with 14 barangays and a population of more than 13,000. Three barangays were identified as geo-hazard areas, and the mayor is thankful for its early detection as they now know what to do or what area to monitor in case of calamity.
The main source of income of the local residents are farming and fishing (the reason why topmost in the mayor’s executive agenda is agriculture).

A few years ago, the town was adjudged as Cleanest and Greenest Municipality in the region. Of late, it was a consistent second place in the provincial level.
The mayor said they have a five-hectare dumpsite complete with a Materials Recovery Facility. The garbage problem is manageable, he remarked. I saw for myself how disciplined the residents are — you will not see any litter along the streets.

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For a clearer picture, this I got from the net. The municipality of Carrascal is located in the northeastern portion of Surigao del Sur. It is bounded in the north by the municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte, in the south by Cantillan, Surigao del Sur, east by Pacific Ocean and west by Agusan del Norte.

Barangay Embarcadero (poblacion) is the seat of the local government, It is (more or less) 70 kilometers away from Tandag, the capital town of Surigao del Sut. It is accessible by land. The municipality of Carrascal belongs to the newly created region, Region 13 presently known as the CARAGA region.

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As i’ve mentioned in my column last week, the main mode of transportation from Carrascal to the next town of Cantilan is either a (single) motorcycle which can accommodate five including the driver, and a tricycle (it can accommodate six, I think).

Like I’ve said, the tricycle is a clear proof of Filipino ingenuity. It is operated like a kuliglig and a jeep. Just like the kuliglig, it is powered by a ‘water pump’ machine, but like a jeep it has a gear mechanism that enables the ‘vehicle’ to stop, move back or forward.

Mind you, the fare is cheap and the drivers are friendly and courteous.
Unlike some tricycle drivers in Dagupan City..(now I’m back in circulation!)