Lala, Lanao del Norte – Farmers and residents of this town are now enjoying multi-benefits of a new farm-to-market road (FMR) completed under DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

The 4.1-kilometer concreted FMR has started to benefit rice farmers in the rice-dependent barangays of Pinuyak, Simpak, and Maranding.

According to barangay kagawad Arturo Arceñas, farmers used to traverse a much longer route just to deliver their produce to the market.

“Before this road (in Maranding) was concreted, it is not being used by farmers and residents due to its poor condition,” he said, adding that not only their barangay has benefited from the project but internal barangays of Pinuyak and Simpak as well.

“This new road has brought convenience to the people here,” he said.

Around 4,100 households along the road’s influence area will benefit from the P33-million project, which was completed last August 2016.

“For now, there is a huge change because the buyers are the one who get our products and we can command a higher price due to its accessibility,” farmer Diogenes Sapatos said, who used to deliver their products using horses or carabaos to reach the market.

Before, farmers incur a hauling cost of P50 per sack. But it has been reduced significantly, according to farmer Nerissa Gantalao.

“Now, hauling only costs us P15 per sack, and when it is time to deliver our products during rainy season, it does take us too much time because the road is easier to access unlike before,” she added.

Students have now a more convenient walk or ride to school with the new road, said Pinuyak barangay captain Myrna Pama.

“During rainy days, students would find it difficult to walk through the road without getting their uniforms soiled. But with the concreted road, they can just ride motorcycles going to and from their schools,” she said.

To maintain the good condition of the road, barangay officials like Pama said they have issued a local ordinance that will allocate a budget for maintenance and repairs.

“This road has ushered in progress to our barangay and changed our lives for the better,” she said.

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