For years, many houses in Barangay Dulangan I, in Baco, Oriental Mindoro have to shut doors and windows—because of dust coming from the dirt road.

But soon, residents in this village will no longer worry about road dust getting inside their houses.

Barangay Dulangan I is one of the beneficiaries, along with adjacent Barangay Dulangan II, of the upgrading and rehabilitation of the 5.3-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) that cuts across the two villages.

“Kung matapos ito[ng kalsada] siguro, ang mga bahay rito palaging bukas. Labasan na ng magagandang kurtina rito,” Dennis Garcia, barangay captain of Dulangan I said. (If the road construction is done, the houses here will be always open. Beautiful curtains will be visible then.)

The FMR sub-project, implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is worth over P55 million, funded with a World Bank loan, and national government and provincial government equities to support development in the area, particularly the agriculture sector.

While the road rehabilitation has just been started with concreting, the residents of the two villages are already anticipating the developments and positive changes that will happen in their area.

Graciano dela Chica, a farmer from Dulangan II in Baco, Oriental Mindoro shared that he has been into farming since he was young, and he has since experienced the difficulty of transporting agricultural products from the farm to the market.

Dela Chica who plants palay, calamansi, and rambutan said that the road construction will provide great relief to many farmers like him.

“Kung dati, hindi ma-encourage magtanim ang mga magsasaka dahil di madala sa pamilihan ang mga produkto, magtatanim na nang maramihan ang mga taga rito sa amin [ngayon] gawa ng kalsada,” he added. (Before, farmers were hesitant to plant since they could not deliver their produce to the market; now, they will be encouraged to plant more because of the road construction.)

Generoso Ebora, who plants rice, banana and calamansi could not agree more.

“Mas lalo naming pag-iigihin ang aming pagsasaka, dahil alam namin na mas malaki na ang aming kita. Sigurado na ang kalidad ay nasa tama at siguradong sariwa na madadala sa palengke ang aming produkto,” he said. (We will strive to become better in farming because we know that our income will increase. We can now assure good quality of our products, that these are fresh when we bring them to the market.)

Even non-farming residents are enthusiastic with the new road construction in the village.

Shiela May Lalong-isip, a student living in Dulangan II shared that during rainy days their shoes and clothes get muddy before they reach their school.

“[Pag] naglalakad po kami, medyo mahirap po dahil napupupod po yung sapatos namin at dahil palit nang palit, medyo magastos din po,” Lalong-isip said. (Walking to school is fairly difficult as our shoes get easily worn out. It is quite expensive when we have to change shoes every now and then.)

With the new road, Lalong-isip is optimistic that it will help her as a student.

“Para sa aming mga estudyante mas madali na po yung transportation at mas madali na makarating ng school,” she added. (The transportation will be better for students, and we can reach school faster.)

Currently, the two barangays have at least 10,000 residents, the majority of which rely on farming as main livelihood.

The barangay captains of Dulangan I and II assured that they always monitor the ongoing construction to see to it that the sub-project is properly implemented.

Garcia said that they ensure the contractor uses the right materials and measurements in construction.

“Gusto namin ay yung long-term na pakinabanagan. Sayang yung inutang natin kung gagawin lang yan basta-basta,” he added. (We want a long-term benefit from the project. Our loans will be wasted if this is poorly done.).

The barangay captain also encourages the residents to be vigilant, adding that this will not be difficult since Dulangan villagers have been waiting for the project for the longest time.

“Nung nabalitaan pa lang na iko-kongkreto [ang daan] may ngiti na eh. Ngayong nagsimula na, abot-tenga na ang ngiti ng mga tao rito,” he said smiling. (When they heard about the news of the road concreting, people were all smiles already. Now that the construction has started, their smiles are now ear to ear).

Indeed, not only will the new paved road bring smiles to the residents of the two villages. As they open their doors and windows of their houses to welcome dust-free air, doors and windows of opportunities for them to improve their living conditions will be opened by the new road. ### (Catherine N. Nanta, DA-PRDP)

Sub-project information poster and Grievance Redress Mechanism poster. (Photo by: Kathrino Resurreccion, DA-PRDP)

Pupils from the Dulangan I Elementary School have to walk through the muddy and uneven dirt road when going to and from school. The road is muddy during the rainy season and dusty during the dry season. (Photo by: Kathrino Resurreccion, DA-PRDP)

Video Clip:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=39lSdohiBkA