Despite the erratic weather conditions, the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office -8 successfully held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Construction/Concreting of Brgy. Hantag- Brgy. Laboon Farm-to-Market Road in Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

The 4.4 kilometer FMR has a total project cost of Php 176,059,892.73. Bulk of the cost was loaned from the World Bank amounting to Php 134,202,715.22. The government of the Philippines through the Department of Agriculture financed part of the project amounting to Php 16,775,339.40. Meanwhile, Php 25,082,192.73 was provided by the city government of Maasin as their equity.

For Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, this experience “feels surreal. Murag nagdamgo ka, nga hangtod karun nagdamgo ka nimata ka ug nagpasalamaton sa makagagahum nga tanan natong paningkamot grabe ang atong energy nga gi-exert, ang effort, ang determination, ang atong pagkapersistent natuman na jud. Kay kapila nako nagsaad sa mga barangay.”

(This feels surreal. It’s like waking up from a long sleep and realizing that all the energy exerted, effort, determination and effort were all worth it. The dream finally came true. I kept on promising this to the barangays countless time, but now, here it is.)

It took seven years for this FMR to be realized after addressing all compliances and necessary requirements. The said FMR is now on its way to benefit 4,630 individuals from Brgy. Hantag, Brgy. Laboon, Brgy. Malapoc Norte, Brgy. Malapoc Sur, and Brgy. San Jose.

“I feel so emotional. I cannot express how happy I am nga namaterialize ni. There is a saying in tagalog that “dumaan ka sa butas ng karayom”. Literally, niagi jud sa butas ng karayum para mamaterialize ni. Sa challenges nga naagia-an nato di gud lalim mao nga it took a while before ni matabo,” Mayor Mercado added.

(I feel so emotional. I cannot express how happy I am that this project has now materialized. There is a saying in tagalog meaning “go through the eye of a needle”. Literally, we passed through the hole of a needle for this to happen. All the challenges we’ve been through wasn’t easy that is why it took a while for this to happen.)

“We are very thankful that this project has finally come to reality. But more importantly, this is just a reminder to us that the government is investing a lot. This is where your taxes go. There is already an expectation that starting with the completion of this project, more agricultural projects will be fully developed,” DA-RFO 8 Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez shared.

These five covered barangays comprise a total agriculture area of 1013.10 hectares and is seen with good potential for coconut, rice, and some high value crops.

Director Enriquez challenged the local government to ensure more agriculture development by drafting plans on what commodities can be developed.

“The very reason why we have supported this project is because we are looking at possibilities to expand existing agricultural areas. We are all part of this project so we have to be responsible enough. Priority natin is food security. We have to be able to produce our own food. Challenge ko ito sa mga barangay chairpersons to establish their own barangay nurseries and let the people plant their own vegetables,” she said.

(The very reason why we have supported this project is because we are looking at possibilities to expand existing agricultural areas. We are all part of this project so we have to be responsible enough. Our priority is food security. We have to be able to produce our own food. My challenge to the barangay chairpersons is to establish their own barangay nurseries and let the people plant their own vegetables.)

This FMR will not just boost the agricultural industry in the covered barangays but can help the community members have easier access to markets, hospital, schools, and government offices to better address their needs.

“This is a wonderful, beautiful project for our city. Ang ato hospital naa diha sa Brgy. Dongon, ug laliman mo kaning ato mga barangay sa upland. It will lessen their travel time going to Maasin City Hall and going to provincial capitol,” Hon. Mercado shared.

(This is a wonderful, beautiful project for our city. The hospital is in Brgy. Dongon that is why it is hard for those barangays in the upland to access it. This project will lessen their travel time going to Maasin City Hall and going to the provincial capitol.)

Both barangay chairpersons of Brgy. Hantag and Brgy. Laboon were present in the said activity to show their support and commitment to participate in monitoring the construction of the said project.(Jennina June Leira Brosas, RPCO 8, Writer)