The municipality of Inabanga and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Sunday officially inaugurated the Napo-Cawayan Hanging Bridge, which has long drawn nationwide attention after photos of the picturesque bridge went viral online.
Inabanga Mayor Roygie Jumamoy, Second District Rep. Aris Aumentado and officials from the DPWH led the inauguration of the bridge which links two villages of the town, Barangay Napo and Barangay Cawayan.
The 150-meter long bridge, fortified by steel cables, was built through a P7.5-million funding through the DPWH.
Although it has suddenly emerged as a new attraction of the province, the bridge was mainly intended to link Napo to the town’s central district or poblacion for the convenience of its over 700 residents.
Aumentado who pushed for the allocation of funding for the bridge said that Napo is “not a very rich barangay.” Tourism, however, may perk up its economy.
According to Aumentado, the hanging bridge can safely hold 15 persons at once in the center even if they carry one bag or sack of cement, palay or farm product each.
The last-term congressman also believes that improving accessibility in Napo would deter lawless elements from turning it into a stronghold or a hideout, considering that the village was once the entry point of 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits who slipped into Bohol supposedly to carry out terrorist activities.
He said that the bridge would make the village more accessible to barangay officials, government troops, other government workers and tourists.
The Inabanga River, particularly the part which cuts through Napo, made headlines in 2017 after 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits infiltrated Bohol through the village to carry out terrorist activities but were later foiled and killed by state security forces.
They were initially spotted by residents of Napo as they arrived on board three kumpits, or two-engine motorboats. The first clash between state forces and the small bandit group broke out in the small village, leading to a month-long manhunt by the military and police. (ad, with a report from June Blanco)