  
					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%.