MONKAYO, Compostela Valley, Philippines (PNA) - An agricultural tramline system was recently inaugurated by the Region 11 office of the Department of Agriculture (DA 11) in Barangay Haguimitan, Monkayo, Compostela Valley (ComVal).
DA 11 Director Carlos B. Mendoza said some 2,000 farming households of Barangay Hamiguitan are now being serviced by another agricultural bi-cable tramline system.
Mendoza said such system is the second in ComVal and the third in the whole Davao Region.
The other two units are located in New Bataan in Compostela Valley and Kapatagan in Davao del Sur.
The tramline is an alternate transport system in isolated areas providing a hauling facility using cables and pulleys to transport products from inaccessible farms to the nearest road network.
In the recent inauguration of the facility, Mendoza congratulated the residents of Barangay Haguimitan for joining the fortunate farming communities who are beneficiaries of this efficient agricultural transport system.
Village chieftain Zaldy B. Herida, on behalf of the Barangay Council, gratefully accepted the responsibility of maintaining the smooth operation of the facility.
Herida said the services of the tramline system not only provides increased efficiency in transporting the farmers' produce to the nearest road network, but also provides a much safer alternative transport system across Agusan River which traverses Barangay Haguimitan, separating five farming sitios from the main village and from the main road network.
"Before, we used bamboo rafts in transporting our farm produce such as copra, banana, and vegetables across the river, which is a very hazardous thing especially during the rainy months of November to December, when the river is almost always flooded," Herida added.
On the same occasion, Mendoza also distributed several cans of assorted vegetable seeds to the tramline beneficiaries to encourage the farmers to plant more vegetables for increased income and improved nutrition.
