Tuburan Gets P15M Farm-to-Market Road Project

The municipality of Tuburan got a Php 15 million worth farm to market road project from the Capitol.

Governor Hilario P. Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale led the groundbreaking ceremony at Barangay Alegria last March 5.

There was also a ceremonial turnover of the Php 15 million, which was downloaded to the local government of Tuburan, during the event.

Davide said that if the legend Genie in a Bottle is true, one of his wishes would be to have all roads around the province concreted.

He said this to the residents of Barangay Alegria and some Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) beneficiaries in the town.

“Storya man lang kana. Pero mao jud na akong pangandoy nga sa dili pa mahuman ang atong termino kadtong importante jud kaayong dalan sa kalungsoran ug kabarangayan ma ablihan man lang. Unya maaspalto ba o semento (That’s only a story. But it is my desire to have all the important municipal or barangay roads paved and then asphalted or concreted),” he said.

Gov. Davide stated that the project is very important not only to the farmers but also to the students.

Also present were Provincial Board Members Alex Binghay and Grecilda Sanchez, and Dr. Romulo Davide, Capitol consultant on agriculture and Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) National Leader.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante said the project will ease the burden of the farmers.

He justified that the road deserved to be developed. He said it is one of the most used roads in Tuburan. Around 54.5 percent of Department of Natural and Environment Resources (DENR)’s project in the third district is in the area.

“More than 1,000 hectares (has) na ang natamnan og kape (diha), ug adunay allocation nga 1,000 hectares sa plantation usab sa cacao (are planted with coffee and another 1,000 has are allocated for cacao plantation),” he said.

The road caters to 12 to 16 barangays. These barangays are homes to the town’s 21 peoples’ organizations that are beneficiaries of DENR’s national greening project.

The farthest barangay is Bangkito, which is already 36 kilometers from the town proper. The barangay is located at the most hinterland part of Tuburan and next to it is already a village of Danao City.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist made an ocular inspection before the project got funding from the Capitol.

Dr. Davide, said it was there that he discovered its bad condition. He said a good road link is a component of FSTP for fast and safe delivery of farm products.

For the farmers, there was a lot at stake. Bregido Montañez said their current transportation is a motorcycle ride locally known as habal-habal.

He claimed that the road condition is not safe for it. Firstly, he said, one single miscalculation by the driver could easily lead to crash because of its sloppy and rough surface.

Secondly, he said, during rainy times they would rather just walk than to risk their lives in a motorcycle ride. Thirdly, the motorcycles cannot accommodate large domestic animals.

Lastly, the fare is Php 100 for a single trip per person. For one sack of cargo, the fare is also Php 100.

“Kung nindot na ang dalan, mahimo nga ang mga mamalitay nay mosaka sa bukid ug mobarato ang plete. Naa napud unyay laing kasakyan (If the road is developed, it is possible that they buyers will be the one to go to the upland area. The fare will also go down and there will also be alternative transportation,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena also stated that the road is usually a precedent to an economic activity in an area.

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