New Tabuk farm road to boost locals’ livelihood

By Elvy S. Taquio

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- A farm-to-market road project under the Dept. of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP) here is set to make lives easier for local folks and bring boost local economy.

 “Padasen tayo met man ti magna ti simento haan laeng nga ti lotlot (Let us also try to walk on concrete not only on mud),” said resident Jun Dalilis, 65 of the Bado Dangwa – Guilayon road. 

“Inmayak ditoy idi 1979, nagpamilya ket inyawid ko idjay Nambucayan. Kapipigsaan ti kape idi, isunga nagmulmula ak met ah, inay-aywanak. Isunga dagita mulak nga kape ket idi paylang dagita, mga seven hectares (I went here in 1979, made a family and settled in Nambucayan. Coffee trading was at its height that time, so I planted and maintained about seven hectares that still exists until now),” he said.

Though the road does not pass exactly along his farm, the thought of not having to carry heavy loads through the muddy road makes him joyful.

Luzviminda Valderama also recalled how residents of their barangay did not believe that their road will soon be concreted. Some would even speak ill of it and they would try to persuade them over and again that it will be finished.

“Adu ti haan nga mamati idi, ngem itadta ngay, makita dan nga adan, nagpintas ta masimsimenton ken haanen nga lotlot (There were some who did not believe the road would pass their barangay, but as they can see, the road is now being concreted, and it’s actually very nice),” Valderama said adding that she hopes that the concreted road will not cause accidents.

According to engineer Gaston B. Cael, head of the I-BUILD (Infrastructure Development) component of the PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office – CAR, the FMR subproject was 47% complete as of July 23.

The 10.4-km road a project cost of P230, 650,513.00 shared by the World Bank, Government of the Philippines through the DA, and the provincial government of Kalinga.

It covers four barangays namely: Bado Dangwa, Nambucayan, Guilayon, and Magnao and shall benefit around 1,015 households or 5,096 population.

“With less than fifty percent progress, the project is implemented with positive accomplishment, which means, it would either be completed on or before its target completion,” said Cael.