The road project, which cost ₱15 million, was funded under the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), the government’s dedicated resource for supporting infrastructure and other development needs of agrarian reform communities. The turnover ceremony was witnessed by DAR officials, local government unit (LGU) representatives headed by Pamplona Mayor Digna Puzon-Antonio and members of the Santa Cruz Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the lead ARB organization of the CURBASTA Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), which includes the barangays of Curva, Bagu, Santa Maria, and surrounding areas.
Regional Director of DAR-Cagayan Valley, Primo C. Lara, emphasized the significance of the infrastructure in his message: “This road is more than just concrete and gravel — it is a symbol of connectivity, opportunity, and progress. It empowers our farmers by bringing their produce closer to markets, reducing transportation costs, and improving their income potential.”
The FMR, which links the agricultural fields of Sitio Dammang to the main barangay roads and nearby trading posts, is expected to boost the mobility of agricultural goods such as rice, corn, root crops, and high-value vegetables. Before its construction, ARBs in the area endured long and difficult trips over muddy and impassable trails, especially during the rainy season.
“For many years, it was a struggle to transport our harvests. Sometimes we would lose part of our crops because we couldn’t deliver on time,” said a farmer-member of the Santa Cruz MPC. “Now, we can reach the market faster, and that means better prices and fewer losses.”
The road project is one of the major interventions under DAR’s Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program (ARBDSP), which seeks to sustain land reform gains through infrastructure, livelihood, and institutional support.
CURBASTA Agrarian Reform Community: Nestled in the upland barangays of Cagayan province, CURBASTA ARC is a vibrant and growing cluster of agrarian reform areas composed of the barangays Curva, Bagu, and Santa Maria, hence the name “CURBASTA.” Established as a consolidated agrarian reform community in the mid-2000s, continues to thrive with the Santa Cruz MPC at the helm of collective efforts to strengthen agri-enterprise and cooperative operations. With the completion of the FMR, the community is optimistic that young people will also be encouraged to stay and engage in farming.
Formed under the Department of Agrarian Reform's community-based rural development approach, CURBASTA ARC brings together agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who were awarded lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and organized into cooperatives and farmers’ associations.
At the heart of CURBASTA’s development is the Santa Cruz Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), the lead ARB organization that has played a crucial role in uniting farmers and spearheading livelihood activities. Over the years, the community has evolved from subsistence farming to more market-oriented agriculture, producing rice, corn, root crops, bananas, and native delicacies. With support from DAR and partner agencies, CURBASTA ARC has benefited from infrastructure projects, farm inputs, capacity building, and livelihood support.
The recent completion of the 1.1-kilometer concrete farm-to-market road in Sitio Dammang marks another step forward in CURBASTA’s continuing journey toward inclusive rural development and agricultural sustainability. Today, the community stands as a testament to the impact of collective action, government support, and grassroots leadership.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Val M. Cristobal reiterated DAR’s commitment to supporting rural communities beyond land distribution. “Infrastructure like this farm-to-market road is critical to making agrarian reform truly transformative. We will continue to work with our ARBOs to ensure inclusive and sustainable rural development.”
The project forms part of the government’s strategy to climate-proof and economically empower agrarian communities, aligning with the broader goals of poverty reduction and agricultural modernization in Region 2.
As
the sun set on Sitio Dammang that day, the newly paved road gleamed with
promise, not just of faster travel, but of a brighter, more hopeful future for
the farmers who till the land.
Photos: DARPO Cagayan-Batanes
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