Provincial gov't opens road to Sitio Mangino, farmers get access from farm to home

The provincial government has cleared the a road for farmers and resident of Sitio Mangino at Barangay Macabaklay in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, providing access to their farms from their homes after a heap of earth, large rocks and fallen trees blocked their pathway.

According to the provincial government, the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) and Provincial Information Office (PIO), along with the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) and the Civilian Security Unit (CSU) helped in the clearing operation at Sitio Mangino on 18 October 2026.

The said clearing operation is in line with the directive of Governor Aurelio “Oyie” Umali to immediately respond to the cry for help of farmers regarding the blockade of earth and wood that hamper farmers from accessing their lands.

Residents stated that on 10 October, they were surprised to see six blocks of dumped soil and rocks, with heights reaching six meters blocking their path. The farmers stated that due to the blockade, most of their vegetable crops rotted as it was hard for them to harvest their crops.

Farmers also feared that the blockade is a part of a plan to allegedly remove them from their ancestral homes, with some of the residents having already sold their parcel of land for a cheap price. They added that this incident started in 2024, threatening their community at Sitio Mangino.

Currently, they were allegedly threatening the lives of the bulldozer operators who destroyed their crops after they confronted these machine operators regarding the incident. While some of the farmers who posted their complaints on social media were threatened with cyber libel charges.

The PIO, along with local media groups such as the DWNE and TV48, conducted interviews and documentation to record the current condition and air the grievances of the residents of the area.

For the farmers, the opening of the road that connects their homes and farmlands is an important step to return to their normal lives, and shows that their cries for help have not fallen on deaf ears as the provincial government provides protection for the livelihood and rights.