New road network brings growth to N. Samar town

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over 169.8 million worth of farm-to-market roads in Gamay, Northern Samar, to provide easier and faster transport of agricultural products.

DAR Regional Director Sheila Enciso said the 8.3 kilometers of roads pass through the barangays of Cagamutan, Bato, Bangon and GM Osias. The project includes a 30-linear meter bridge in Barangay Bangon.

“All projects are implemented under the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP-II),” Enciso said.

The Cagamutan del Norte-Bato-Bangon road has a total cost of 129,238,531, the Cagamutan-Bato-Bangon road, 121,999,911, and the Bangon-GM Osias road 118,566,899.

“Because of the bridge constructed on this road, the farmers and the residents don’t have to wade across the river anymore in crossing Barangay Bangon,” Enciso said.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Nida Abelido said residents from seven more remote villages will benefit from the road project.

An estimated 9,000 residents from 11 barangays pass through the roads on their way to the national highway, Abelido said.

DAR Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Sylvia Mallari said rural infrastructures “help combat poverty in the countryside; and this compliments the core mandate of DAR, the Land Tenure Improvement.”

Mayor Timoteo Capoquian acknowledged DAR’s contribution to the town’s development.

He said DAR is the town’s biggest donor in terms of rural infrastructure.

Though the total project cost was shared by the LGU and the national government through a loan from the Asian Development Bank, Capoquian thanked DAR for assisting in building the road network.