26-yr.-old brgy. kagawad in Tabuk City builds footbridge using own resources

Tabuk City, Kalinga – This 26-year-old barangay kagawad in Bulanao Norte might be young and new in public service, but he is devoted to serving the people even at the expense of utilizing his personal resources.

Emil Gunnawa who just assumed his first term of office last year saw how risky and unsafe for individuals especially the kids in Purok Datu to be crossing the irrigation canal through a tree trunk that in one wrong step, they could fall into the water, and God knows what can happen after.

People, he said, opt to use the improvised bridge to get to the other street instead of taking the longer route and having to walk down the road to get to the other side.

“Madami pong dumadaan doon na mga bata, elementary students, sobrang risky po sa mga bata … kaya nung ni-request nila sakin yun ma'am, inaksyonan ko agad kasi delikado rin ma'am yung daanan na ginawa nila,” he told GURU Press Cordillera in an interview.

For this reason, he saved his honorarium for the past months and utilized some of his personal money to build the people a concrete and safer footbridge, so parents do not have to worry about their kids falling into the canal when crossing.

When asked why he decided to use his own resources, the 26-year-old emphasized he ran for a public position in 2023 to help and serve the constituents in Bulanao Norte.

“Palagi ko po sinasabi ma’am na hindi po yung pera or honorarium ko yung habol ko ma’am, gusto ko po talaga tumulong kaya nag-decide ako na ipunin yung natatangap kong honorarium,” he shared.

The footbridge project was completed on May 15, 2024.