16/09/2025
BEST SERBISYO STORY
After much deliberation, DILG 8 proudly recognizes the best of its Matitino, Mahuhusay, at Maaasahang mga kawani.
Here are our winners for the month of June:
Best Feature Article (SRO Category) - DILG Leyte
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀: 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
By: PEO II Jayson Silvano, DILG Leyte
For years, Sitio Apale in Barangay Visares was a community surrounded by abundance, yet trapped by inaccessibility. Rich in agricultural potential, the area was home to hardworking farmers producing root crops, fruits, and vegetables—but their yields rarely reached the markets in time. Without proper roads, their products were often carried manually, through muddy, rocky trails, or via makeshift carts, taking hours to reach town. Many harvests spoiled before they could be sold. The cost of transport was high, and with middlemen dominating the supply chain, profits remained painfully low.
But that changed in 2024, when Sitio Apale became a beneficiary of the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP). With the program’s assistance, a long-awaited farm-to-market road was finally constructed—transforming not just the landscape, but the economic future of the community. With more than 1,500 residents directly benefited from this project, marking a pivotal moment in the sitio’s path toward development and self-sufficiency.
A turning point to the community
“This road is more than just a project,” says Hon. Renato M. Arpon, Barangay Captain of Visares. “It’s our way to progress. Before, our farmers couldn’t even bring their goods to market without spending double or triple the normal cost. And in the worst cases, products would rot before they ever left the sitio.”
He recalls that the most affected stretch of terrain—over a kilometer long—was so rugged that vehicles couldn’t pass, and walking it was exhausting. “It was full of stones, roots, and mud. It wasn’t just inconvenient—it was destructive to our economy,” he explains.
Now, with the newly built road, motorcycles, tricycles, and small transport vehicles can pass with ease. What once took two hours by foot now takes twenty minutes by motorbike. Farmers can bring their goods directly to buyers, cutting out middlemen and increasing their income. Local cooperatives have started forming again. Productivity is up, spoilage is down, and for the first time in a long time, farmers are talking about expansion rather than survival.
From barefoot to market-ready
The improved access has sparked a ripple effect throughout the barangay. With increased income, families are now able to invest in more efficient farming tools, quality livestock, and better farm inputs, leading to higher yields and greater productivity. Some households have diversified their income sources by starting small-scale businesses, using their improved mobility and market access to reach more customers and suppliers. This shift is strengthening local livelihoods and gradually lifting the economic condition of the community.
Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) Mr. Benito C. Procia affirms the broader goal. “We’re focused on building economic resilience by supporting farmers and small entrepreneurs. This road allows products to move, yes—but it also allows dreams to move forward. It’s about income, but also inclusion.”
A student of hope
Seventeen-year-old Joy Palacio may not be a farmer, but she has felt the deep effects of the road in her daily life. A Grade 11 student, Joy used to wake up at 3 A.M., walking over an hour through slippery, rocky trails to reach school. “There were days I cried from the pain in my feet,” she says. “Sometimes I’d get to school late, already tired, already behind.”
Now, thanks to the road, her travel time is cut in half. She rides to school, arrives on time, and has energy left to focus and participate in class. But more than that, Joy’s story reflects a larger truth: when farmers thrive, so does the next generation.
With improved income, more parents are now choosing to send their children to school rather than to the fields. In the past, many families had no choice but to involve their children in farm work to make ends meet. Education often took a back seat to survival. But the construction of the farm-to-market road has changed that.
The road has not only opened access to markets, but it has also removed barriers to learning. Today, more students are attending school consistently, with the support of parents who no longer have to choose between putting food on the table and investing in their children's future. The impact is clear: when livelihoods are strengthened, education flourishes—and with it, the promise of a better life for the next generation.
Indeed, Sitio Apale stands today as a testament to what infrastructure can achieve when it's targeted, community-driven, and sustained. The road built in 2024 is not just pavement over dirt—it’s the foundation of a renewed economy and a revitalized community.
“This road brought back life to our land, and dignity to our labor. Now, our farmers earn more, our students dream bigger, and our community moves forward—together,” Hon. Arpon stressed
