26 September 2026 — After months of preparation and coordination, the Center for Community Development officially kicked off the Tulay Ning Paglaom Project, bringing together ADNU volunteers and residents of Punta Tarawal for a day of collaboration toward a safer and more reliable way of crossing the river. The volunteers were briefed by Aldrin Belmes, Special Project Coordinator, on the project and its objectives, followed by a welcome message from Barangay Chairperson Hon. Jayson Veri, who expressed his gratitude to the Ateneo community for initiating the project. He also shared that Tulay Ning Paglaom has helped bring greater attention to the challenges faced by residents of Punta Tarawal, particularly their long-standing need for safer and more accessible transportation. Through the increased attention brought by the initiative, the Barangay Council has since raised its concerns with the appropriate government agencies and has now secured funding support for a proposed farm-to-market road project.
The launch marked the beginning of a shared effort between the university and the community, with the temporary footbridge serving as an immediate response while longer-term solutions continue to be pursued.
Before heading to the site, volunteers were served pancit for breakfast to fuel them for the clearing operation ahead. Once they arrived, they immediately got to work, cutting through nipa, grass, and thick vines by hand and with bolos. Working through the dense nipa forest, the volunteers cleared roughly one kilometer of pathway that will serve as the route for the temporary footbridge and, eventually, the proposed farm-to-market road connecting Punta Tarawal to Balatasan.
After hours of physical work under the heat, the volunteers were treated to a seafood lunch prepared by the Barangay Council. Fresh seafood and gulay na natong were served, giving everyone a well-earned meal and a chance to rest after a morning of hard labor. Special thanks to the Network Operations and Computer Services (NOCS), headed by its Director, Zero Magallon, for providing the manpower necessary for this clearing operation. Dios Mabalos!
Once this project comes to fruition, the decade-long struggle of Punta Tarawal residents who have long relied on the sea for daily travel may finally begin to ease. This is only the beginning, but for the community, a safer route means children reaching school more safely, families gaining easier access to essential services and livelihoods, and residents having a more reliable way to connect with the rest of the community.
