The barangay local government unit and community beneficiaries of Pappa, Sablan joyously accepted the completed Balingew-Taya Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) and Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement (MPDP) during the “Inauguration, Turn-over and Acceptance Ceremony” at Sitio Taya, Pappa on April 23, 2019.
Barangay Pappa is among the three rural communities in Benguet assisted by the Scaling Up of the Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2 Scale-Up).
The Improvement along Balingew-Taya FMR is a 2.2 kilometer-single lane road that stretches from Sitio Balingew to Sitio Taya amounting to Php5, 819, 957.71. As per project design, the road’s primary beneficiaries are the community farmers to include 75 farmer association members and other local organizations like 4H Club and Women’s Rural Improvement Club. Its influence area is around 150 hectares of agricultural land where products such as tiger grass, banana, and other high value crops are grown.
“The Lord answered our prayers ta daytoy ket tinagtagainep tayo idi paylang ket tadta aglaglagton ti pusok ti ragsak ta adan kalsada mi (The Lord answered our prayers because this was my dream long before and now my heart is jumping with joy because we already have a road),” expressed Barangay Captain Clay Calado who is from Sitio Taya.
He added that before the road improvement, hauling and transportation of agricultural products were difficult and expensive. “Ti bayad ti komboy idi ket mapan nga 50-100 per sack depende jay produktom ken jay kinaadayo na (The payment for a manual haulers is around 50-100 per sack depending on the product and the distance),” said Hon. Calado.
Hon. Calado and the community beneficiaries particularly those from Sitio Taya has attested that the improved FMR has lightened and lessened their hauling and transportation activities and expenses, respectively.
Cynthia Backian, CHARMP2 Scale-Up staff assigned in Barangay Pappa, also added that even government operatives who are working in the community felt the benefits of the road improvement.
“Idi, makipagpagna kami kadagijay umili ken kokomboy nga sumalog ken sumang-at idjay Taya ngem tadta ta nalukatanen jay kalsada, nalag-anan kami metten karkaro nu nadagsen ti awit mi (Before, we were walking with the community and manual haulers going down and up from Taya but now that the road was opened, we were relieved especially when our loads are heavy),” she said.
On the other hand, the MPDP measuring more than 420 sq. meters is located at the Pappa Multi-Grade School at a total cost of Php485,000.00. It is seen to benefit around 137 households especially those residents near the school.
With the MPDP construction, the farmers can now better dry their produce in wider spaces and ensure that these are properly dried. It was noted that the farmers usually make use of their fields, porches, roads, and other open spaces such as school grounds as temporary drying areas to dry their produce such as tiger grass or “buyboy”.
Backian said that the MPDP also serves as playground for the school children during school days and as drying pavement for farmers during weekends, holidays and school vacations.
Both the FMR and MPDP were counterparted by the provincial local government of Benguet following the 90% (Project) – 10% (LGU) cost-sharing scheme.
Balbina Ernesto, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council Chair, urged the community beneficiaries to exert cooperative effort in the operation and maintenance of the turned-over projects for they own these projects. “Dagitoy nga projects ket kukwa yo, dinawat yo ti gobyerno ket tadta aywanan yo (These projects are yours, you asked for it from the government and now you take care of them).”
Sablan Mayor Hon. Arthur Baldo also shared his vision for the promotion of agro-tourism in Barangay Pappa. He noted that the turned over projects today are starting points for more developments in the community. He then encouraged the community members to always think of possible ways to further improve their community.** Janice B. Agrifino (Info Officer B)
