Residents in some geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the municipality of Tinoco in Ifugao can now enjoy easier mobility in moving their produce to the market and in accessing government services with the completion of some farm to market(FMRs) roads.

Concretizing whole-of-nation approach

This March, five FMR projects funded through the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF - ELCAC) were inaugurated and turned over to the beneficiaries.

The 480 meters-long single lane Bagimbing-Gaha-Lab-ong FMR in barangay Dango and the 296 meters-long two lane Ababba -Tummingeb FMR in barangay Tukucan, with project cost of P4 million each, were inaugurated in March 7 and 8 respectively.

Inaugurated in March 14 are the improvement of the Pah-igan. - Lubbang-Tuhdaw FMRs at Gumhang and the concreting of the Manaan-Lab-ong FMR at Luhong. The P4M worth Pulitang-Acak-Bingbing FMR) constructed at Binablayan was turned over on March 15.

These are projects under the FY 2022 SBDP aimed at connecting more areas within the province as the government moves to provide easier access from agricultural areas to markets, education, health, and other government services to improve the living conditions of the people.

The inauguration was led by members of the Task Force -ELCAC that include officials and representatives from Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency - Ifugao, Armed Forces of the Philippines - 54th Infantry Battalion, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, provincial and municipal officials, and witnessed by the community.

DILG – Cordillera Regional Director Araceli San Jose lauded all barangay and municipal officials and the community  for their cooperation that led to the successful implementation of the SBDP projects.

“These priority projects showcase  the dedication of the government in its pursuit to deliver the needed services that will help improve the lives of the people and also for the attainment of lasting peace in the community,” San Jose  said.

Thankful community

Barangays Dango,  Tukucan, Luhong, Gumhang, and  Binablayan are among the former insurgency-affected areas in the municipality. The residents  are mostly engaged in gardening as source of  income.

Mayor Samson Benito thanked the national government for the construction of the FMRs which will primarily help farmers transport their products to the market.

"A big thanks to the kindness of the national government for addressing some of the problems in our place. This road is beneficial to the people of  the barangays and Tinoc as a whole because agricultural products will be easily transported to the market. Let's show to the people how the government cares for them," Benito  said.

“The community appreciate much the implemented farm to market roads under the Support to Barangay Development Program of the National TF-ELCAC Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict because they saw the sincerity of the government in addressing their needs,” Tinoc Vice Mayor Efren Tacio  said.

Dango resident Samor Uybaan  cited  that the  FMR is a great help to their daily activities particularly in transporting their products in the market.

"We are thankful that the government funded this road through the ELCAC. It will surely improve the production of farmers in our barangay because we will not be hard up especially in bringing our produce in the different trading post," Uybaan said.

Dango Punong Barangay Huwebes Duclap  and  Tukucan  PB Edwardo A. Ngo-oy also expressed their gratitude for the construction of the FMRs  and  committed  to take care of the projects.  

 “Gumanda na ang daan at nabawasan na ang travel time namin sa pagbiyahe hindi kagaya noon na nahihirapan kami lalo na kapag umuulan dahil kailangan pang umikot. Nagpapasalamat kami sa gobyerno sa project na ito, sana tuluy-tuloy ang supporta nila sa aming lugar,” said  Ngo-oy.

As the government is institutionalizing  the peace agenda  to  help facilitate delivery of basic services, the community should cooperate.

“We enjoined them to support the government by not allowing the presence of anti-government or insurgency that will affect peace and order,” Tacio said.(JDP/MBL- PIA CAR, Ifugao)