Estehanons celebrated on receiving two interventions from the Philippine Rural Development Project of the Department of Agriculture in the recent Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Improvement/Concreting of Burak-Mabuhay-Batayan-Kalaw Farm-to-Market Road in Oras, Eastern Samar, wherein a wing van was also turned over for the Eastern Samar Seaweed Production and Trading Enterprise under the micro-enterprise development component.

 

A group of children welcomed the guests and visitors to express their gratitude for providing such projects that will help the farmers and their communities.

 

“I am touched when I saw the eyes of the children while they waved their flags. I knew we have contributed something because there is already an assurance that there will be development on this part of Eastern Samar because of this investment of the government,” RED Angel C. Enriquez, DA-PRDP RPCO 8 Project Director expressed.

The 7-kilometer FMR will benefit four barangays in Oras, E.Samar with a total population of 3,571 individuals. It is seen that said areas have potential on commodities such as rice, corn, vegetable, abaca, root crop, banana and coconut, comprising a total agricultural area of 1,692 hectares.

 

Gov. Ben P. Evardone of the Province of Eastern Samar challenged the local officials of the four barangays to utilize the FMR productively. “My challenge to the Brgy. Chairpersons is to organize the farmers into associations so you can be provided with livelihood projects such as the Eastern Samar Seaweed Production and Trading Enterprise of the Catumsan Crab Growers who based in Arteche, E.Samar. Who knows you will also be given a truck like this for the transport of your products,” he said.

 

Despite the tedious process, it only took two years for this project to be approved and finally be implemented through PRDP. This is remarkable instead of the usual three to four years.

“The story has just started from the time you went to our office even during the pandemic. This is now the reality. These projects were made possible because of the persistence of your Local Government Unit, who religiously worked and complied all the necessary requirements and the actively sharing the counterpart for the implementation,” RED Enriquez shared.

 

Gov. Evardone expressed his glee for the realization of these projects designed to develop their province and help their farmers excel in agriculture. “I am happy that through our collaborative efforts we are here. I hope that this FMR will help our farmers’ livelihoods progress,” he expressed. ###