U.S. Helps Build New Bridge To Town

  USAID Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and Hon. Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., Municipal Mayor of Tupi, South Cotabato formally opened on September 6 a new bridge in Barangay Kalkam which will help residents to easily transport farm produce and access services in the town proper of Tupi and in Koronadal City.  The Kalkam Barangay Bridge project is one of the 14 completed barangay infrastructure projects (BIPs) in the Municipality of Tupi under the USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM-3) Program.  USAID’s grant amount for the project is about 1.5 million pesos while the counterpart contributions of Tupi municipality amounted to about 2 million pesos or about 59% of the total project cost.  Deputy Director Aeschliman lauded the commitment of the local government officials in meeting the needs of its residents and assured the U.S. government’s continued support to make life better for the people of Mindanao.  Also in photo is Kalkam Barangay Chairman Junie Buca.