DAR turns over third farm-to-market road in Daram

DARAM, Samar, June 28 -- As the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) commemorates this month the 29th year of implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)said agency on Monday turned over to the local government unit its third and longest farm-to-market road project constructed in this island-municipality.

Undersecretary Sylvia Mallari led the turnover rite of the 12.4-kilometer all-weather road held in Barangay Birawan, some seven kilometers away from the town proper.

“This is in line with the President’s pronouncement, Build! Build! Build!” Mallari said referring to the road project. “Upang patuloy ang pag-unlad ng kabuhayan, at magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa kapaligiran” she added. 

In his acceptance message, Mayor Philip Martin Astorga stressed the benefits this project would bring to his town. According to him, this would serve a faster way to travel across the island, and further spur development through agriculture.

Residents of this municipality used to travel around the island by motorboat in the absence of a road.

Implemented under the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP-II), this road, according to Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Alfonso Jalalon, passes through seven barangays : Mabini, Ubo, Birawan, Astorga, Marupangdan, San Vicente and Bono-anon. 

The new road will benefit more than 5,600 residents in the area with 500 of them being agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Regional Director Sheila Enciso said the total cost of this project, where critical portions of five kilometers were concreted, reached PHP48.9-million being shared by the local government unit and a loan from the Asian Development Bank by the national government.

Thus, Enciso reminded the recipients to maintain it in good condition for 10 years. Otherwise the loan portion comprising 40 percent of the total cost will likewise be shouldered by the LGU.

Vice Mayor Lucia Astorga, who was the mayor during the planning stage, never forgot to mention in her welcome message former ARCP-II National Project Director Homer Tobias for considering this municipality and became a recipient of three farm-to-market roads making almost all barangays not only accessible, but opening livelihood opportunities as well.

According to her, the 40 percent share of the national government was of big help in the realization of this town’s dream of building road networks.

Meanwhile, aside from the convenience they now experience in hauling farm products for trading, Birawan Kagawad Leonardo Papawran enumerated other benefits to be enjoyed with the completion of this road.

He disclosed that the road provided many residents another source of livelihood as motorcycle drivers. 

It also serves as an alternate route during bad weather when not it is unsafe to travel on waters.

Papawran emphasized, the youth from other barangays would now be encouraged to enroll at the Birawan National High School. (DAR-PR/PNA)