The
farm to market road connecting Brgy. Panaruan and Brgy. Can-ipulan,
Sta. Margarita, Samar. |
P20 million
FMR improves farmers’ livelihood
By
MAE ANGELICA R. COMOTA
February 23, 2018
CALBAYOG CITY –
DPWH Samar I completes the construction of four (4) farm to market
roads (FMR) within the district benefiting the farmers and
residents situated in Barangays Cabunga-an and Sitio Mactang in
Santo Niño; San Luis and Pange in Tarangnan; Santo Niño and Macugo
in Gandara; and Can-ipulan and Panaruan in Santa Margarita.
These projects have a
combined appropriation of P20 million and cover the concreting of
1.44 kilometers of road. In these communities where agriculture is
the primary source of income, the concrete road provides the farmers
direct access to neighboring barangays and their respective
poblacions, establishing trade and income.
In Brgy. Panaruan, farmers
had to endure walking on uneven and rocky ground while carrying
heavy produce just to deliver it to Brgy. Can-ipulan and Brgy.
Solsogon.
“We used to walk for more
than an hour because even habal-habals and motorcycles would not
ride through the bumpy old dirt road,” explains Michael Catalan, a
farmer from Brgy. Panaruan. “Now that this road is concreted, it is
easier for us to transport our products using motorized tricycles.”
Travel time and transport
cost for agricultural products is reduced by 50%.