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Farm-to-market road spurs development in remote Zambo Sur village

MOLAVE, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA) - The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has completed the construction of an 18.22-kilometer farm-to-market road in Barangay Parasan in this town.

The World Bank-funded project is now reaping significant benefits for the communities in the towns of Josefina, Mahayag, and Molave. 

Former Barangay Captain Francisco Bertulfo said the concrete road has resulted in positive changes in Barangay Parasan after the village got easily linked to the town of Molave.

Bertulfo expressed his gratitude for the realization of a long-time aspiration. "Sa dugay gyud nga panahon, niabot na gyud ang among pangandoy nga kining pag-concrete sa kalsada,” Bertulfo said. 

[For a long time, our dream of having this road concreted has finally come true.]

The concrete road has streamlined agricultural operations, resulting in significant cost savings for farmers. According to Bertulfo, trucks can now easily access their farms, making product retrieval much more convenient than before when they used to labor.

Former Barangay Captain Francisco Bertulfo expresses his gratitude for the realization of the road concreting project in their village. (Snaps from DA ZamPen)
The 18.22-kilometer farm-to-market road traverses Gumahan, Diwan, Parasan, Mabuhay, and Sudlon villages in the tri-boundaries of Josefina, Mahayag and Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. (Snaps from DA ZamPen)

The impact on transportation costs is particularly noteworthy. Previously, farmers faced high expenses to transport their harvest to Molave, but now the cost has significantly decreased. This has led to substantial savings, with Bertulfo estimating a 70 percent reduction in expenses.

The improved infrastructure has also spurred extraordinary growth in Barangay Parasan. 

"Ang household namo diri nagpuyo sauna naa lang sa 600, karun naabot na sa 2000 ang among households," he noted. 

(The number of households in our community, which previously totaled around 600, has now grown to 2000.)

Additionally, people from Molave are relocating to Parasan, attracted by the expansion and development in the area.

Bertulfo expressed his gratitude for the government's commitment to rural development, stating, "Ako nagpasalamat ko ug dako kay ang Parasan gigasahan gyud ug proyekto gikan sa gobyerno gikan sa Department of Agriculture sa Philippine Rural Development Project ”

(I am genuinely grateful because Parasan has greatly benefited from projects spearheaded by the government through DA-PRDP.)

PRDP's farm-to-market road has not only enhanced agricultural efficiency but has also become a catalyst for socio-economic growth, transforming Barangay Parasan into a thriving community with improved living conditions and expanded opportunities for its residents. (APG/RVC/EDT/HTB/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur, with reports from DA-ZamPen)

About the Author

Harvy Bangayan

Information Officer

Region 9

Harvy T. Bangayan earned his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) and is now pursuing his Master's degree in Public Administration at the same institution. A music lover, he now writes news in Zamboanga del Sur and manages the PIA Zamboanga del Sur Facebook page.

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