Agriculture is a major contributor to the economy of Cawayan, Masbate. About 852.22 hectares of its land area is planted with rice while 77.44 hectares is devoted to coconut production.

Livelihood of about 4,652 population in the municipality is dependent on agriculture and fishing with its land use categorized into various commodities like coconut, vegetables, rice, corn as well as livestock production.   

During the 16th World Bank Implementation Support Mission Consultation With Project Affected Persons, Michael Catampatan Jr., 38, a fish vendor from Brgy. Dalipe in Cawayan, Masbate, recounted his struggles prior to the construction of the 15.79-kilometer Concreting of Segment (A) Palobandera to Dalipe and Segment (B) Calumpang to Iraya Farm-to-Market Road (FMR). 

“Dati, mahirap po talaga i-transport ‘yung mga isda namin papuntang Mactan kasi dyan ‘yung palengke tuwing Huwebes,” he said. 

The P247.97 million-worth FMR is funded under the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP). The infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject covers two segments: Segment A which begins at Brgy. Palobandera and ends in Brgy. Dalipe; and segment B which starts at Brgy. Calumpang and ends in Brgy. Iraya.   

The FMR covers 299.95 hectares or 14.42 percent of the total land area in the municipality. As of October 20, 2023, the I-BUILD subproject has completed 93.45 percent of its physical progress since it started construction on August 10, 2022.  

“Ngayon, madali na naming i-transport kasi ‘yung daan namin, maganda na po. Dati siguro mga two hours (ang byahe), ngayon pag medyo mabilis ang takbo, mga 15 minutes,” said Catampatan. 

Cawayan Mayor Edgar Condor thanked the DA PRDP for turning the town’s long-held dream into reality saying “Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa DA PRDP. Tinulungan nila kami kung paano mag-comply sa mga requirements. Malaking tulong po ito para sa bayan ng Cawayan. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa World Bank sa kanilang financial support dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi din makukumpleto ang budget namin kasi ‘yung sa amin lang is only counterpart.”

Aside from agriculture, the DA PRDP-funded FMR now also benefits the municipality’s socio-economic sector. 

According to Dalipe Elementary School School Head Antonia Glenn Bigornia, 57, from Brgy. Poblacion, Cawayan, Masbate, prior to the road construction, she used to travel as early as 5 a.m. to arrive at school at 8 a.m. Now, she can leave home at 7:30 a.m. and still manage to attend the flag ceremony. 

World Bank Task Team Leader Maria Theresa Quiñones, in her initial assessment of the subproject, expressed her satisfaction on its implementation. 

“We are very happy and we are satisfied with what we have seen. Nakita namin, tipong maganda ‘yung implementation in terms of quality and timeliness. There are areas requiring some improvement. You have done a good job. You are a partner of this undertaking. And ‘yung mga areas for improvement and need to be followed up and look further please comply kasi ‘yan po ang isang mahigpit nating ipinapatupad hindi dahil sa World Bank kung hindi ito po ay loan, alam niyo ‘yan and gusto natin every single centavo of taxpayers’ money would really go where it should be,” she said. 

The Concreting of Segment (A) Palobandera to Dalipe and Segment (B) Calumpang to Iraya Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) is one of the 17 DA PRDP-funded I-BUILD subprojects in Masbate. It will benefit a total of 775 households from four barangays namely Palobandera, Dalipe, Calumpang and Iraya. The subproject is targeted for completion in February 2024. # (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE)