Selling their produce was once challenging for Lolita Alcantara, treasurer of the Tambubo San Andres Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Brgy. San Andres Balud, Masbate.

“Dati ang hirap po talaga, kami po ang naghahanap ng buyer. Kung sino po ‘yung buyer, pupuntahan namin doon para sila na po ang pupunta sa bahay namin at saka gumagastos po kami ng P200 sa gasolina,” she recounted. 

Goat production is a primary source of income in the community. The Cooperative is engaged in goat raising and recently, 29 out of its 79 members have received a goat production with dispersal livelihood project from the Department of Agrarian Reform.   

According to Alcantara, with the construction of the 11.16-kilometer Concreting of Dao to Bungcanaway Farm-to-Market Road With Bridge funded by the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP), it is now easier for farmers to market their produce. 

“Malaki po ang naitulong ng kalsada dito sa amin dahil noon, hirap po talaga. Nagbebenta po kami ng gulay, kami po ang naglalako. Ngayon, ang bumibili na ang pumupunta dito sa amin. Maganda po bilang magsasaka dahil madali na po ang aming transportation,” she added. 

The P247.36 million-worth Concreting of Dao to Bungcanaway FMR With Bridge covers four barangays namely Dao, San Andres, Mabuhay and Bongcanaway. These barangays are considered as an important track to achieve local economic development.

According to Balud Mayor Rodolfo Estrella Jr., the DA PRDP-funded FMR is designed to support the municipality’s agri-fishery and transportation sectors.  

“Nung pinag-aralan namin ito, before, two croppings ang nangyayari doon. Mga more or less 80 to 100 tons ng palay ang napo-produce dahil ‘yung isang barangay doon ay may small water impounding area. So pinakaproblema na lang nung una, pag harvest season at planting season. Mula sa pag-abono, hanggang sa pag-harvest ng palay talagang kalabaw ang ginagamit. Nung tinanong ko nung una, halos bawi lang sila kasi ang nangyayari napupunta sa expenses ng travel ‘yung mga ani nila at saka mga abono na binibili. So far ngayon nasa 50 percent up to 60, laking tulong sa kanila dahil laking kabawasan ng expenses para sa mga inputs at saka mga products na naaani nila,” he said. 

Estrella noted that Balud is one of the biggest fishing grounds in Masbate as it is surrounded by the Asid Gulf, Visayan Sea and Sibuyan Sea. The Concreting of Dao to Bungcanaway FMR With Bridge will complement the local government unit’s plan to establish a Fish Port. 

“Once makapaglagay kami ng Fish Port doon, pinakamababang bagsak ng isda from Balud weekly is 7,000 to 15,000 banyera,” he added. 

Furthermore, Estrella said that the DA PRDP-funded road will enable the municipality’s planned function as the province’s transshipment point going to Panay, Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.  

The Concreting of Dao to Bungcanaway FMR With Bridge was among the featured subprojects during the 16th World Bank (WB) Implementation Support Mission held on November 13 to 15, 2023 in Masbate. The WB team headed by Co-Task Team Leader Maria Theresa Quiñones conducted a field visit at the FMR site to evaluate the process undertaken as well as the status of subproject implementation. 

The DA PRDP-funded FMR began construction on February 3, 2023. It is set for completion on October 20, 2024 and is projected to benefit a total of 1,657 households or about 9,943 population in Balud, Masbate. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)