interior

Community unites over road troubles

alcibiades cortés/la prensa

rocky road: La Mina residents recently took matters into their own hands as they performed repairs on the area’s main road.1102346

Exasperated with the local government’s slow response to complaints about abysmal road conditions, some 150 residents of La Mina, in the province of Los Santos, rallied together yesterday to begin repairs on the main road in their community, which has been impassable for the last 20 days.

The group brought in boulders to secure the dirt road in hopes of preventing the swampy conditions that barred vehicles from entering and leaving the agricultural community.

The road is also the only link between the nearby communities of Las Guabas and Villa Lourdes, San Luis, Caña Brava, El Rescador and serves as a shortcut on the Macaracas-Cruce Sabana Grande highway that connects to the province Herrera.

Agapito De León, a resident of La Mina, criticized the government for letting the road fall into disrepair, forcing the local farmers to cut new paths in order to get their products and livestock to markets.

According to De León, the situation worsened significantly over the past 20 days after heavy rains, rendering the roadway a quagmire for all vehicles except tractors.

Celso Samaniego, a local rancher, said the state of the road has put the livelihood of many people in the community at risk by preventing fertilizer from reaching some 500 hectares of corn, and thwarting the delivery of another 60 shipments of milk that are produced on a daily basis.

Samaniego explained that some community members formed a board aimed at making simple improvements to the road since local authorities vacillated on the issue, demonstrating a lack of support.

He added that attempts to ford the few auxiliary routes available to them are equally problematic, especially when frequent downpours cause flooding and landslides.

The rancher’s wife, Dianhet, pointed out that students have been forced to walk to school along the muddy road in one set of shoes and clothes and then change into their uniforms once they get to class.

Nelson Pérez, another resident, said that if there continues to be no response from local officials, the community’s next activity will be blockade Macaracas-Cross Sabana Grande highway in protest until the government is forced to act.

Recently, regional director for Ministerio de Obras Públicas in Los Santos, Virgilio González, confirmed that rains have eroded some crucial roads in the area and recommended they be maintained.

González said that when budget planning for 2009 starts in November, local authorities will submit plans for road maintenance.