[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 22, 2008
By JACK C. GADAINGAN
NAVAL, Biliran — Gov. Rogelio "Roger" J. Espina is seeking the assistance of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture for the release of funds for construction of farm-to-market roads in the province, as previously approved by his department.
Likewise, the governor will solicit the support of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, of which the lead convenor is Secretary Domingo Panganiban, who visited this island province during his tenure as the agriculture secretary.
It was Panganiban who saw the need of the farmers here for farm-to-market roads.
Espina is hoping that funds for the farm-to-market roads for Sitio Palayan that is connecting to the town of Almeria, the Imelda-Jumetilco-Gomez-Balik-Balik in the municipality of Naval, and the Pitogohan roadway also in Almeria town be released -- in order to alleviate the plight of the poor farmers in the area.
"Even the strongest and hardiest carabao will find a hard time navigating the Palayan-Cabungasan road section in Barangay Caucab of Almeria town," reported the farmers of Sitio Palayan to Gov. Espina.
They said the road trail that to the town proper, where they sell their produce and wares, was badly damaged during the recent rains.
It was reported that this eight -kilometer roadway is the epitome of the ugliest condition that a barangay road can be, but remains as the lifeline of many farmers who are largely dependent on selling their farm produce at the local market for their daily existence.
The heavy rains that besieged Eastern Visayas this February added to the problem, making the road almost unpassable even by foot.
But rural folk must dare the odds for no other way leads to Palayan.
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