Aggie dept. turns over 17.5-km farm to market road to Talakag town

THE Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 10 (DA-RFU 10) gives hope of economic development to the residents of barangays Cosina and Baylanan in Talakag, Bukidnon as it turns over 17.5-kilometer farm to market road to the local government of Talakag.

The total project costs P24 million of which P20 million was funded by Department of Agriculture-Office of the Secretary (DA OSec) while the remaining P4 million was shouldered by the local government of Talakag as its counterpart.

Residents of the are plant crops just for their own consumption despite having suitable land and weather condition for agricultural production before the project implementation.

They were discouraged to increase their production due to transportation problems brought by impassable roads. Unstable peace and order situation in the area also hinders progress in the locality.

The farm to market that reconnected the two barangays to the town proper and to the neighboring places becomes the major catalyst for progress of the barangays. It encouraged PUJs to include the areas to their routes which signaled the rise of economic activity including increase in agricultural production.

The road also provides easy access of military personnel to reach the areas to uphold peace and order. The barangays which took hours to travel before now could be reached only in a matter of minutes.

Mr. Bencio Palohan, a native resident of Brgy. Baylanan, said: “I left the place before because I viewed it as a very deserted place. It was like a place that has no future.”

He returned to the place upon knowing that the road had been rehabilitated and that vehicles could now reach their barangay.

“I came back because I can see brighter future in this place now that we have passable road,” Palohan added.

Baylanan Brgy. Chairman Joel S. Caraga did not know how to express his gladness for the realization of the project. “All my brothers and sisters left this place and I am the only one who remained. Others said that even until the ‘crow turns white,’ the road will never reach this community but it did. I hope this will be the start of our progress,” he said.

Talakag Sangguniang Bayan member Rosenio S. Sansanan expressed his gratitude to the national government for the project’s realization.

“This project might not have been realized if only President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did not visit Talakag and promised P10 million for the rehabilitation of the said road. We followed up for the implementation of the project in Manila and asked an additional of P10 million to make it P20 million through then DA Undersecretary Emmanuel Jess Paras. I am very glad now that the project is completed,” Sansanan said.

On the other hand, DA-RFU 10 regional Executive Director (RED) Lealyn A. Ramos thanked the residents for their support to the programs of DA.

She encouraged them to take care of the project. “I hope that you will take full ownership of the project and that you will help maintain it so that it can be used for a longer period of time.”

She made them aware of possible causes of the project’s damage.

“Guard it and protect it from indiscriminate usage including those heavy trucks that passes through your road during rainy days for it will be one of the major factors that will lead to the destruction of your FMR. I hope that during our next visit, the road will be as passable as it is now and that agricultural production will increase because of this project,” Ramos concluded.

The activity was graced by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Region 10 Head Ma. Tita Rodriguez, DA-RFU 10 RED Lealyn A. Ramos, DA-RFU 10 Regional Technical Director Engr. Roxana H. Hojas and the rest of DA-RFU 10 staff, and the Local Government Unit of Talakag, Bukidnon.

manny kerwin v. martinez