Livestock raisers like Marlin Atibagos usually ride a horse for three hours from Brgy. Campana to Brgy. Del Carmen in Uson, Masbate where the biggest livestock market in the province is located. 

“Dati, naglalakad lang kami kasi mahirap ‘yung daanan. Pumupunta kami dito (sa Brgy. Del Carmen) sakay ng kabayo,” she said. 

With the ongoing construction of the 14-kilometer Concreting of Del Carmen to Malatawan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR), an infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject funded under the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), Atibagos feels relieved that travelling to the auction market will no longer be that burdensome and time-consuming. 

“Noon, matagal pero ngayon madali na kasi (sementado) na ang kalsada,” Atibagos added. 

The existing barangay road from Brgy. Del Carmen to Brgy. Malatawan is not efficient for transporting agricultural products especially during rainy days. The PhP248.92 million-worth I-BUILD subproject traverses the municipalities of Uson and Palanas. 

Aside from elevating the socio-economic status of the communities residing within the road influence area (RIA), the FMR also aims to increase the income of local farmers, particularly the livestock raisers in the area.  In addition, it targets to reduce the hauling cost of agricultural inputs and transport losses on agricultural products by 50 percent. 

The FMR is also projected to raise the annual income of farmers by 20 percent and generate about 67 percent additional income for them. Moreover, it targets to increase the number of potential livestock backyard raisers, particularly women, involved in swine and live goat raising by 25 percent.   

Among the beneficiaries of the PRDP’s infrastructure subproject are four barangays in Uson, namely, Brgy. Del Carmen, Brgy. San Isidro, Brgy. San Ramon and Brgy. Paguihaman, and three barangays in Palanas that are located within the RIA. 

According to Barangay Chairman Jerry Verdida of Brgy. Del Carmen in Uson, Masbate, the FMR subproject will greatly benefit not only his constituents but also the communities in neighboring barangays. 

“Ito ay napakaganda dahil malaki ang pakinabang rito ng mga beneficiaries. Ang Del Carmen, ito ang pinakasentro ng mga barangay. Tinatawag ito na commercial center ng Municipality ng Uson. Ito ‘yung pinakamalaking barangay na kung saan ‘yung mga produkto ng mga magsasaka dito, sa tuwing araw ng Huwebes doon dinadala ‘yung mga produkto nila from the other barangays, from other municipalities to Del Carmen. So ‘yung mga taong dumadaan dito from Malatawan, from Municipality of Palanas papunta dito ng Uson, sa aming barangay, napakahirap ng pagdala ng kanilang mga produkto,” Verdida said.   

Rice farmer and Barangay Councilor Pablo Barili of Brgy. Malatawan in Palanas also shared how the FMR will benefit his community. 

“Malaki ang pagpapasalamat namin sa PRDP. Matagal nang gusto naming magka-concrete road para ang mga produkto namin umabot ng market na hindi pa bulok. Malaki ang maidudulot nitong concrete na road ng PRDP kasi ‘yung mga produkto namin, madaling madala sa Brgy. Del Carmen,” Barili said.   

The Concreting of Del Carmen to Malatawan FMR is one of the nine ongoing I-BUILD subprojects in Masbate that was funded under the DA-PRDP’s second additional financing. It will benefit a total population of 7,348 or 1,226 households, 206 households or 16.80 percent of which are farmers. The construction of the said I-BUILD subproject started on April 18, 2022 while its target completion date is set for November 2023. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)  

The 14-kilometer Concreting of Del Carmen to Malatawan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) will benefit four barangays in Uson namely Brgy. Del Carmen, Brgy. San Isidro, Brgy. San Ramon, and Brgy. Paguihaman and three barangays in Palanas that are located within the road influence area.

The DA PRDP-funded Concreting of Del Carmen to Malatawan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects to raise the annual income of farmers in Uson and Palanas, Masbate by 20 percent.

The P248.92 million-worth Concreting of Del Carmen to Malatawan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) aims to increase the number of potential livestock backyard raisers particularly women involved in swine and live goat raising by 25 percent.