Biliran farm folk request farm-to-market roads

By JACK C. GADAINGAN, Manila Bulletin

NAVAL, Biliran — Gov. Rogelio “Roger” J. Espina is seeking the assistance of Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture for the release of funds for construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in the province, which have been previously approved by the agriculture department.

Likewise, the governor will solicit the support of the National Anti-Poverty Commission headed by lead convenor Secretary Domingo Panganiban, who visited this island province during his tenure as the DA secretary.

Espina hopes that with the release of funds for the FMRs the farmers will have lower costs in transporting their produce to the market place.

“Even the strongest and hardiest carabao will find a hard time navigating the Palayan-Cabungasan road section in Barangay Caucab of Almeria town,” reported the farmers of Sitio Palayan to Espina.

They said the trailway leading to the town proper, where they sell their produce and wares, was badly damaged by the recent rains.

It was reported this eight-kilometer roadway’s condition is the clearest evidence of the sorry state of a barangay road. Yet in the absence of an alternative road, it remains to be the only trading lifeline for farmers and sellers.

Farmers are greatly dependent on the road for the selling of their farm produce at the local market place for their daily existence.

The heavy rains that besieged Eastern Visayas this February added to the problem, making the road almost impassable even by foot.

But rural folk must dare the odds as there is no other way to Palayan.

Farmers are hoping the DA will also give them attention, like it does to calamity hit areas–even if the province has no listed fatalities, as they are also victims of the incessant rains that hit Eastern Visayas.

Many farmers are greatly affected by the continuing rains and have been praying that they be spared of rains for a day or two just to give them time to bring their products to the market place.

After having converted their produce to cash, they would buy necessities like salt, kerosene, and detergents.

The sitio took its name from a government project in the 70’s that created “Palayan ng Bayan” in the area, where about 20 hectares of fertile land was cleared to make way for rice fields and livestock grazing areas.

Since then, the clearing grew into a community with its own school and a chapel.

It is also home to Manobo tribal folk, whose main livelihood is centered on agriculture. They also depend on FMRs in their trading.

Presently, a single sack of farm produce will cost P80 to R90 pesos by “habal-habal” or passenger (single) motorcycles from Sitio Palayan to the town for this eight kilometer stretch of road alone.