P21M farm-to-market road brings hope to Tacloban farmers

For years, farmers in Barangay New Kawayan and Sto. Niño in Tacloban City endured muddy and impassable roads just to bring their harvests to market. That long struggle has finally come to an end with the completion of a farm-to-market road that promises easier transport, bigger opportunities, and better lives.

The Department of Agrarian Reform inaugurated and turned over a 1.4-kilometer concrete farm-to-market road worth P21 million, offering long-awaited relief to 289 agrarian reform beneficiaries and the wider community. The project has been formally entrusted to the local governments of Barangay New Kawayan and Sto. Niño for maintenance.

DAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu emphasized that the new road stands as a solution to the long-standing transport challenges faced by farmers in the area. He said the project reflects the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to bring progress to rural communities, a key item in DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III’s nine-point reform agenda.

"This newly concreted FMR is more than just asphalt and gravel; it is a pathway to progress, convenience, and economic empowerment for our farmers," Yu said. "It truly reflects the Marcos administration's unwavering commitment, championed by Secretary Estrella, to bring essential development directly to our rural communities. We envision a future where our farmers can easily bring their produce to market, reduce post-harvest losses, and ultimately, uplift their quality of life."

For farmers like Welefortes Bodaña, president of the Barangay 101 Vegetable Farmers Association, the road brings life-changing convenience.

"This has been our long-cherished dream," Bodaña said. "Before the road was paved, we struggled, especially during the rainy season. The area would become so muddy; that one could hardly walk. We used to carry our harvests on our heads or pay someone to transport them."

With the new road, vehicles can now reach their farms with ease. "Now, buyers can drive directly to our farms to pick up the vegetables. This makes everything so much easier, more efficient, and far more profitable for us," she added.

Barangay Chairman Rafael Manhuyod echoed the community’s gratitude and optimism, noting how the project will improve access not just for farmers but for all residents seeking better opportunities and basic services.

Funded through the Agrarian Reform Fund and completed with support from the Department of Public Works and Highways, the project highlights how strong collaboration between agencies can uplift the lives of farmers and agrarian communities. For Barangay New Kawayan and Sto. Niño, this road is not just a path to the city, but a way forward to a brighter future.