“Mas lalong magaan ang buhay mi ngunyan na may magayon na kaming tinampo na naaagihan. Digdi samo halos pag-uuma saka pagtatanom ning gulayon ang kabuhayan. Kadto nagtitiyaga kami na mag-agi sa laboy, ngunyan dai mi na kaipuhan magduman sa luwasan ta mismong mga paratinda asin mga parabakal na an nadidigdi samuya ta magayon na po tinampo. (Our lives are now getting better because of the road. Most of the livelihood of the residents here are rice and vegetable farming. Before, we used to walk in the mud just to sell our goods but now retailers and consumers are already coming here because the road is already paved)” Manding Alayan, resident of Barangay Batang, said. 

Alayan is one of the farmer beneficiaries of the 6-kilometer Road Opening and Concreting of Batang – San Gabriel Farm to Market Road in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.  Like other residents, planting and selling vegetables are their main source of livelihood.  

The poor road network and the high cost of hauling and transportation of the processed products and the raw materials are few of the difficulties faced by the residents. Before the construction of the FMR, the farmer-beneficiaries have to walk the muddy and slippery road or even rent a carabao just to deliver their harvest to the nearest market. But now that their road is paved, their livelihood has also been well and convenient.

“Puon kan nagkaigwa nin tinampo digdi samo mas napadali po ang samuyang trabaho asin mas nagkaugwa pa po kaming oras para magtanom o magibo pa ning ibang bagay na pwede mi pa pong pagkakitaan. Kaya dakulaon po talaga ang pasasalamat mi sa PRDP para po sa proyekto na ini, dakulaon po talaga ining tabang samuya. (Ever since the road was constructed, it makes our work easier and convenient, we even find time to plant or do other things that can help us earn additional income. That’s why we are really thankful to PRDP for this project, it really helps us a lot)” Alayan added.

The Road Opening and Concreting of Batang – San Gabriel Farm to Market Road aims to increase the agricultural production with safe and easy economic access, reduce travel time and vehicle operating cost, reduce hauling cost of all the inflows and outflows of the agricultural commodities, minimize the labor cost in the delivery of the agricultural products to market and open opportunities for basic services such as health, education and communication. (Michelle Angela G. Alfigura, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

Farmer Beneficiary of the Batang to San Gabriel FMR transfers their harvest to the mobile service of one of their retailers.(Photo by: Michelle Angela G. Alfigura, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

PPMIU Camarines Sur and RPCO 5, SES Associate Officer, Cherry Soribello and I-BUILD RIE Engr. Joel Catimbang inspect the Road Opening and Concreting of Batang – San Gabriel FMR during their site inspection in Pamplona, Camarines Sur. (Photo by: Michelle Angela G. Alfigura, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)