TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato — What was once a difficult and nearly impassable road has become a gateway to better opportunities for residents of Sitio Bong Lawaan in Barangay Palo, following the completion of a 550-meter concrete farm-to-market road (FMR).
Funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP), the project has significantly improved transportation, access to services, and economic opportunities in the remote community.
Before the road was concreted, residents relied mainly on horses to travel to the barangay center, while vehicles and even motorcycles struggled to pass through the rough terrain.
“Before this road was cemented, vehicles could hardly pass through. Even motorcycles had difficulty crossing,” said Barangay Captain Sotero Castillanes.
The improvement has been especially beneficial for farmers, as Barangay Palo serves as a major agricultural area, accounting for about 30 percent of the village’s production zone.
For farmer Ma. Rechel dela Cerna, the new road has dramatically reduced transportation costs and made it easier to bring produce to market.
“Transporting our products is now much easier. Traders can directly pick up our goods,” she said.
Instead of making costly and time-consuming trips, farmers now only need to gather their harvest at designated pickup points, where buyers collect them weekly.
The road has also improved access to education. Previously, students had to wake up as early as 4 a.m. and walk along muddy paths to reach schools located about 2.7 kilometers away. Many arrived exhausted, while some eventually dropped out.
According to Castillanes, the improved road conditions have encouraged more families to own motorcycles, making travel to school faster, safer, and more convenient.
“It’s a huge help. Life has become much easier,” dela Cerna said.
Access to healthcare and government services has likewise improved. In the past, residents facing medical emergencies had to endure a 21-kilometer horseback journey before reaching an area accessible by motorcycle.
Today, health workers and government agencies can directly reach the community and deliver basic services more efficiently.
Beyond its economic and social benefits, local officials said the road has also contributed to peace and security in the area.
“Where the road ends, insurgency begins. But if we build roads, where the road begins, insurgency ends,” Castillanes said.
For residents of Sitio Bong Lawaan, the farm-to-market road represents more than just infrastructure—it symbolizes progress, connectivity, and the government’s commitment to improving the lives of people in remote communities.
The project received funding through the LGSF-SBDP for insurgency-cleared areas under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). It was initially allocated P2.5 million for a 200-meter stretch, with an additional P5 million provided later to extend the road to 550 meters.
