Farmers lack of access to farm-to-market road affects prices of food items. According to Department Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Philippines has a backlog on farm-to-market road. (see post here PH has backlog on farm-to-market road infrastructure). However, upon uploading this video on his facebook page, there are various netizens post their open letters to the comment section of Piñol.

About the Video

The video shows the struggle of ‘tribal’ producers in transporting commodities . Clearly, they use horses to load their produce despite of the steepness of the road.

Netizens’ Reactions on Struggling Farmers

According to Rennel Gill Falar, in his hometown in Sitio Cabonbon ,Malabog , Davao City, Cacao and Banana producers struggle to transport their beans. Their roads should be rehabilitated because it is their only source of income.

Also, Custodio Ariel, a daughter of a farmer, raised concerns in their market in La Trinidad Trading post. Food items are drastically increasing while producers’ income are decreasing.

Take Homes

It is stated in  Republic Act No. 7607 Magna Carta of Small Farmer ,chapter 4 Infrastructure and Inputs, section 11 Transportation Infrastructure that government should provide farm-to-market roads, feeder roads, and bridges which will link farms to market.

Respectively, Department of Public Works and Highways shall coordinate with other organizations and subdivisions of the National Government in implementing the provisions of the said section.

Source:

Tribal farmers struggling due to absence of farm-to-market road