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Philippines

Philippines: Farm-to-Market Road Provides Better Access for Rural Community

A new road built with the support of WFP helps farmers in a village in Lanao del Sur get their produce to market faster and cheaper.

In the small agricultural community of Butig, Lanao del Sur, not so long ago farmers had to travel to and from the nearest town by foot or horse. They would spend Php25 to Php50 (around US$0.50 to US$1) for each sack of goods they needed to transport.

“We had to walk or travel by horse along slippery and muddy roads,” explains Sirad, a 52-year old farmer from Butig. “The poor road access had a direct impact on farmers in our community.”

Today, the challenge of the muddy road is behind them. Sirad is proud to showcase the new farm-to-market road in their barangay (village) which he and the other farmers built themselves.

The 370-metre stretch of concrete road was funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 10 and supported by WFP through cash-based assistance.

In exchange for 30 days of work, Sirad and his companions were paid Php6,000 (US$130). Many of the farmers used the cash to buy food for themselves and their families.

“We are lucky that our barangay was targeted for the cash project of WFP. The support is very timely considering that most of us have no expected income as our crops have been damaged by drought,” says Sirad, who has five children.

As the leader of a farmers’ organization, Sirad shares that constructing the road had its challenges but it provided farmers with better opportunities.

“The hauling cost of agricultural products and other goods has been reduced by 40 percent,” Sirad shares. “Our families also have better access to the barangay health centre and schools now.”

Author: Apasrah D. Bani
Apasrah is a Monitoring Assistant in the Iligan Sub-Office of WFP Philippines. Her field work focuses on the municipalities of Lumbaca Unayan, Lumbayanague, and Butig in Lanao del Sur.