The bridge that revived a village

  

Phieng Chin bridge was built and put into use by the people of Na Vang village by the end of 2019

Don Phong is a highland commune with mountainous terrain, which has many rivers and streams. The normal ankle-level streams can suddenly become a violent force pouring down the village in the time of the flood. The children, in such condition, cannot go to school, the adults cannot go to work, traffic becomes impossible. All of these disturb people's daily lives. The villagers in Na Vang village, Don Phong commune had to find a way to cope with the situation. They assembled a temporary bridge made crudely of wood to cross the stream. Even then, the compromised bridge can only help the villagers to cross the stream without wetting their clothes. Such a fragile bridge is itself helpless before a rushing stream. Hence, the locals will simply put away the bridge if they could predict the coming of a flood. However, it is not the case most of the time. Floods in this area usually come suddenly and when it happens, the bridge is gone in a snap. Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuyen from Na Vang village said: “I have lived here for most of my life. In the rainy season, when it rains heavily and the water level rises, this area is almost completely isolated. Everyone wishes to have a real bridge to reduce their burdens and for their children to go to school safely…”

 

The temporary bridge has to be reinforced after every rain

The aspiration of the people of Na Vang village has come true when Na Vang village is among the six villages participating in the project “Community Management in the New Rural Development Program” implemented in Bach Thong district, Bac Kan province. A solid steel-core concrete bridge, which is 12m long with a 1.5m wide surface, was erected by the villagers applying the Community Management method. The bridge was completed with the joy of more than fifty households in the village.

“This bridge has always been the dream of our people for many generations, way back from the time of my grandparents. The day when the project came to the village to organize the village meeting for needs assessment, to rank the priority solutions, we did not even dare to think about asking for the project's support to build a concrete bridge. Because we thought it would take several hundred million Dongs or even billions to complete a bridge, so at that time we only proposed a sub-project for us to build two abutments for the bridge, which could be solid enough to withstand the rushing water, so we would only need to take care of the removable surface of the bridge when the flood comes, not a brand new concrete bridge. " Mr. Trinh Xuan Hong - Leader of the community-based group responsible for the building of Phieng Chan bridge, shared.

In 2019, Na Vang village is supported by the project and the New Rural Development (NRD) program with a total budget of VND 130 million to self-assess the current situation in the village for selecting the most difficult problems and discuss solutions for them. The first thing people think of is the construction of the bridges. Initially, the villagers only thought of building the abutments for these bridges because nobody had the mind to think that the budget would be enough for building even one bridge, let alone constructing all three of them. After many meetings to discuss and calculate with the encouragement and technical support of the local authorities and project officers, the community groups have boldly planned and built a budget plan and then self-managed and completed not only one but three bridges across the stream of Na Vang village right before the 2020 Lunar New Year. Along Phieng Chin bridge, they have managed to construct the bridge in Vang Ca area and the other one in the Central area of the village, which brought great pleasure for all villagers...

The total expenditure of the Phieng Chin bridge is about VND 130 million, of which the NRD program and the project support VND 46 million, the rest is the contribution counterpart of the people, mainly in kinds and labors (which are converted to cash in the budget plan). The story of the people of Na Vang village making their own plans and mobilizing people to build three bridges from the supported budget of just VND 130 million has become an inspiration and a typical example in the implementation of the NRD program in Bac Kan province.

“Until now, when the bridge is completed, the villagers and I still cannot believe this is true. The people are no longer worried and being anxious every flood season. With the bridges, the transportation of agricultural products and production tools is easier and more efficient, especially our children no longer have to miss school because they are isolated by the fast water. The implementation process is also quite difficult because the budget is limited, we contributed more and save as many costs as possible. For example, in the design and engineering of the bridge, we asked the Commune’s People Committee to find an experienced worker to give free consultation to the village. With available materials, such as rock and gravel, we mobilized people to dig them up from the stream for construction. Although it was hard labor, it saved us tons of money... In addition, we put our own workforce in every work possible, we give it our best, so we can reduce the cost for hiring normal workers in order to save it for technically demanding components which required professionals.” Mr. Trinh Xuan Hong, Leader of the community-based group responsible for building the Phieng Chin bridge, shared more.

 

The construction and monitoring of the sub-project are well ensured

Standing on the new solid Phieng Chin bridge made of reinforced concrete, Mr. Trieu Phuc Ty - Chairman of the People's Committee of Don Phong commune shared: “I know the implementation of this bridge very clearly. I participated and fully supported them from the steps of the meeting to discuss and calculate the plan for budgeting, construction, and monitoring of the sub-project. At first, I was very worried. Partly because of the amount of the supported budget and the other part is the lack of capacity and technology to build the bridges. However, along with the implementation process of the sub-project from meeting to discussing, and making plans, in which I participated and even consulted a lot for the villagers to complete the plan in the most feasible way. Then, I was convinced that they are capable. After the bridges were completed and put into use, I feel relieved and happy for the people because it was a painful problem in the village for a long time, every time I meet with voters, I hear people raising their concerns on this but cannot find enough resources or feasible solutions. Thereby, the villagers are really determined and capable. If the support is aligned with people’s needs and aspirations, the mobilization of internal resources to implement the NRD Program is no longer a problem. I regularly share this story with other villages in the Commune so that they can have confidence and inspiration in the development of their village by themselves.”

Check and takeover of the Phieng Chin bridge

Community Management is an effective, efficient, and sustainable method that follows the motto of “People need – People know – People discuss – People monitor – People benefit”. Thus, the support and closed follow-up of the local authorities is indispensable for it to be at its full potential.

---