Aside from the usual benefits a concreted farm-to-market road (FMR) offers, like reduction in travel time and transportation cost, it also opens the door for the creation of new economic opportunities.

In Barangay Singao here, the completed 2.7-kilometer Maligaya FMR under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) has paved the way for the establishment of a rubber trading center.

“Before, farmers here were discouraged to deliver their rubber cuplump because of poor road condition. but now, the trading center is already accessible for them,” said Teresita Pacate, one of the rubber farmers who unloads her produce at the trading center.

She said that after the construction of the FMR, local officials heeded to the call of the rubber farmers to put up the trading center in their barangay because of the road provides convenient transport.

“Farmers from other barangays in Kidapawan also decided to bring their products here. There are other bagsakan (trading center) in other areas but still they choose to deliver in Singao because of the concreted road,” Pacate added.

With better road, they already got the taste of good price in rubber since there is already a centralized trading of rubber cuplump.