The concreting of a 2.5-kilometer dirt road to service remote villages in Arakan, North Cotabato has been
Sitio Napanlahan is among the remotest areas in Poblacion where vast hectares of lands are used for growing rubber, banana, and other high-value crops.
Arakan Mayor Rene Rubino said the road concreting project is a ‘dream come true’ for many farmers in two villages.
“Our farmers from these areas have a difficult time transporting their products to the town center. Many of their products, especially when rains come, would just rot along the road because no
Mendoza said the P25 million project was funded by the money they received after being awarded this year the ‘Seal of Good Housekeeping’ by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
http://www.mb.com.ph/north-cotabato-completes-p25-m-road-project/
There is an adage that "where the road ends the insurgency begins." While that may not be true in all instances, there is some validity to the quote with regard to the Philippines. The lack of roads in the Philippines fuels the lack of economic development and poverty. In addition, the lack of access provided by good roads contributes to the absence of government influence and the rule of law. Arakan is/has been a stronghold of the Maoist New People's Army. The completion of road projects such as the one noted above can serve to improve the economic opportunities for local peasants and allow the government and military to extend their influence into the region. Road construction projects like the one mentioned in the article are not a good thing for the NPA insurgents.
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