Palanan-San Mariano Road (San Mariano)

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District II Isabela Congresswoman Ana Cristina Go envisions a good life for the people of San Mariano, Isabela wherein she actively pursues the development of the Palanan-San Mariano Road.

During the discussion of Congresswoman Go and NEDA RD Milagros A. Rimando on March 11, she said that the Palanan-San Mariano Road could open up many opportunities for the people being the biggest municipality in the province with an endowed land resource area of 142, 183 hectares. She stated that since San Mariano is in a remote area where people only visit the place for their logging needs, she wanted to advance other opportunities for the community. “I want to give people a reason why they should go to San Mariano,” she said.

Through the Palanan-San Mariano Road, the eco-tourism of the place could flourish because of its natural scenic beauty being one of the coastal areas in the province. Congresswoman Go also emphasized that the place is historic as Emilio Aguinaldo used the same road in going to Palanan from where he was captured. “We could translate this historic event as an opportunity for tourism just like in Cebu where people visit the place to see where Mac Arthur landed or other historic places that were exhibited as tourist attractions in the country,” she added.

The San Mariano road is identified as a national road by the DPWH and the suggested project is said to cover 70 km. road construction. Last year, a regional consultation on the Ilagan-Divilacan Road was conducted to discuss the possible construction of roads linking the three coastal areas namely Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan in the province of Isabela.

According to RD Rimando, five possible routes were identified for the road rehabilitation of the coastal areas; one of which is the Palanan-San Mariano Road. However, she explained that the Ilagan-Divilacan was being proposed based on the study conducted by the DPWH and the Province of Isabela.

Congresswoman Go said that the proposed Ilagan-Divilacan is a good project and she is not opposed to the idea. Furthermore, she explained that what she is proposing (the Palanan-San Mariano Road) is a different project which will seek funding from the DPWH and the LGU. The Congresswoman believed that the Palanan-San Mariano Road will provide many alternative livelihoods to the municipality which can help in accelerating the economic activities of the country.