Troops open bridge in Maluso in Basilan

Filipino and American soldiers opened yesterday a newly built bridge in Maluso town in Basilan, capping months of infrastructure work as part of the counter-terrorism campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

The US navy Seabees, who will be leaving tomorrow after a six-month campaign, have so far completed three bridges and a crucial road, improved a pier and reopened an abandoned airstrip as well as drilling wells and setting up water systems in the impoverished island.

Local Marine commander Brig. Gen. Renato Miranda lauded the completion of the US infrastructure projects.

"What used to be an inaccessible area has now become reachable to all of us. Before, it used to be a petri dish of terror and lawlessness. Now it has become a place of renewed hope for the people of Maluso," Miranda said.

The modular steel bridge inaugurated yesterday connects the rest of Maluso with Mahayahay.

Mahayahay barangay chairman Rolando Bernardo said that for 18 years, farmers and civilians used to take one hour to traverse the three-kilometer dirt road. "Now, it will take them just 10 minutes," he said. — Roel Pareño