San Roque, Northern Samar– Residents from different barangays and local government officials gathered here recently for the much–awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Bantayan–Malobago–Pagsang-an farm–to-market road (FMR) subproject of the Philippine Rural Development Project.

For Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 Executive Director Wilson A. Cerbito, the FMR is one way of addressing and reducing the high poverty incidence in the province of Northern Samar.

“This FMR is part of our interventions lined up for the province of Northern Samar not only under PRDP but also in our Regular Programs – the province being a special area prioritized for agricultural development. In fact, the implementation of some of these are already on-going such as irrigation projects, postharvest and farm machineries, and provision of quality seeds and planting materials, among others,” he said.

For Mayor Don L. Avalon, this road subproject will directly benefit around 9,000 residents coming from six barangays.

“We never thought we could reach this far. Of course, this will not be possible if not for the Provincial Government and the DA for helping us.

He added, “Hopefully, this will result in more economic actitivities, increased agricultural production outputs, better social services and improved way of living in the subproject covered areas – all because of the new road.”

This is the first PRDP-funded subproject to be implemented in Nothern Samar. It has a total length of 6.88 kilometers costing P50,332,424.00. It shall directly benefit the residents of barangays Bantayan, Malobago, Pagsang-an, Lawaan and Genagdanan involving a total of 1,717 households.

Aurora Limpiado, a resident of barangay Aurora, San Roque said, “Natuo kami nga ini nga dalan maresulta sin mas halipot nga biyahe pagdara san am produkto tikadto sa bungto. Liwat an am gastos sa pasahe ngan pagkarga maiibanan. Kami naglalaum  nga an am pamaligya magigin madali tungod nga mapakadi na sa am an mga mamarait. Sa ungod, mas madamo na an gaganahan pag-uma.”

(“We expect that this road will result in a shorter travel time for us in briging our farm products to the downtown. Of course, transport and hauling costs will also drop.  We are even expecting marketing will become easier as buyers or traders might already visit us. Surely, more farmers will now be enticed to expand their farming operations.”)

The activity was also participated in by Governor Jose L. Ong, Jr., representatives from the provincial legislative council, municipal local officials, Regional Deputy Project Director Jenny Lyn R. Almeria and other key personnel from the Regional Project Coordination Office -8. (Rodel G. Macapanas, RPCO 8, InfoACE)