BARANGAY Turog-turog, Oton is a producer of watermelon, chili, tomato, squash and other vegetables. Usually, these farm produce are carried on foot for 20 minutes to the nearest vehicle stop or can be transported by either a motorcycle or tricycle to the market.

There is no paved road that connects Turog-Turog to the poblacion. When it rains, it becomes rugged and full of potholes, making it a challenge to bring the produce to the market in good condition. Vegetables should be unblemished to commend a higher price.

The road is muddy during rainy season and dusty during summer time.

Former Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee chairperson and now Barangay Captain Daisy Calzado said there is an existing barangay road in Turog-Turog. Yet, it is narrow and only small vehicles can access it.

She said only habal-habal can enter the narrow path though tricycle can also pass though Turog-turog yet it is not easy for the tricycle drivers because of the rough road.

The rough passage also poses inconvenience to patients other than farmers. It is hard to bring the sick to the hospital and pregnant women who were about to give birth.

“May natabo gani nga ang gabusong sa tricycle nalang nagbata kay nabudlayan ang tricycle magpanaw tungod sa budlay nga dalan , (There was once an incident where a pregnant woman in labor was forced to give birth inside the tricycle because the tricycle was not able to speed up because of the impassable road,” narrated Leila Callos, a community volunteer of the project.

The town’s ambulance could neither fetch patients from their homes in Turog-Turog. “Sang una, mas mayad nga tuwangan na lang ang pasyente kesa isakay pa sa ambulance kay nabudlayan gid ang ambulance mag-agi sa amon dalan, gadugay ang pagrescue sa pasyente.

Ang ambulance didto lang sa piyak sang taytay gahulat sang pasyente,  (Before, it is better to just carry the patients rather than transporting the patients through an ambulance, because it is hard for the ambulance to access our road. It contributes to the delay in the rescuing a patient. The ambulance only waits at the other side of the bridge), “ said Callos.

Students were also affected with the rough road. The nearest elementary school from Brgy. Turog-turog is at Brgy. Cadinglian.

When it rains, at times students would slipped and end up with their uniforms full of mud.

The inconvenience brought about by the muddy road to the lives of the people, prompted them to identify it as their basic small infrastructure needs during the barangay assemblies and project prioritization of Kalahi-CIDSS.

They were provided with more than P3 million grant for the construction of 500-linear meters road. The community had incurred savings in the implementation of the project.

They used the remaining amount for the construction of another 200-meters road in the community.

Calzado gave credit to the residents of the barangay for carrying out the project.

“Very evident gid ang cooperation sang tanan during the implementation. May ara nagdonate sang cash, may ara nag-shoulder sang pamahaw, nagbulig. Tanan nagpakita gid nga dedikado sila sa pagpahimo sang amon nga dalan (Everyone’s cooperation was very evident during the implementation. There were those who donated cash or provide snacks for the workers. All have shown dedication during the construction of the project),” said Calzado.

“Dako ang nakita namon nga pagbag-o diri sa Turog- turog umpisa sang nadalanan kami sang Kalahi-CIDSS. Ang mga kabataan kon mag-eskwela sila, happy na sila pakadto sa school kay wara na sanda gakalauhan. Ang mga tricycle kag motor nami na ang ila nga byahe sa amon barangay. Kag ang importante gid, dasig na ang pagresponse kon may pasyente kay tayuyon na ang pag-agi sa kalsada, mahapos na, (The improvements were really evident since Kalahi-CIDSS concretized our road. Students are now happy in going to school since their uniform is mud-free. The tricycles and motorcycles can now ply the route accessibly. Most importantly, patients can easily be responded since the ambulance can now easily access our road),”  said Melanie Capilastique, resident of the barangay.

The farmers, the students, and the entire community of Brgy. Turog-turog are now provided with a safer, more convenient road to cater to their transportation needs.#