from the ravine to the highway as Sec. Proceso Alcala formally turned-over the
first Agricultural Tramline System (ATS) in Zamboanga Peninsula last Feb. 25.
The ATS turnover in Sitio Santa Rita and Sitio Fortunato, all of barangay La
Paz, were among the sorties of Sec. Alcala's recent visit to Zamboanga City,
who came first to Sulu province on Feb. 24.
"Mas mabilis at makakamura na ang mga magsasaka sa paghakot ng kanilang produkto
galing sa baba bago makarating sa merkado," Sec. Alcala remarked as some 100
kilos of banana and vegetables were carried by the ATS from the slope in transit
for five minutes only at Sitio Santa Rita.
Punong Barangay Salvador del Mundo, in accepting the postharvest facility from
the Department of Agriculture (DA), disclosed that for a long time, the farmers
had to pay farm laborers to carry their produce at P1 a kilo which would take
them hours to reach to the highway.
"With this tramline, they (farmers) will only pay P.50 per kilo and their
produce would reach the station in five minutes only. Konti nalang ang labor
cost at mas mabilis na mahatid sa merkado ang aming mga produkto," the punong
barangay noted.
ATS are built by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and
Mechanization (Philmech) in mountainous areas of Cordillera Administrative
Region, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog,
MIMAROPA, Bicol, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and
SOCCSKSARGEN.
Regional Executive Director Oscar O. Parawan disclosed that Region 9 is having
four ATS: two in La Paz (Sitios Santa Rita and Fortunato) one in RT Lim which is
the longest (almost 1 km stretch) and one in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Sta. Rita ATS is 370 meters in length while in Sitio Fortunato is about 390
stretch to serve 160 households in 150 hectares productive area.
A tramline system is composed of two towers on each end, pulleys, cables, a
power house, engine, two sheds and it is operated by two people end to end. It
has a loading capacity of 300 kilograms, according to Philmech Director David
Julian.
Alcala said the ATS will benefit the isolated farmers in the remote places with
ravine or slope terrain to get an alternative transport.
He was optimistic that DA will work for expansion and it will also carry people
with semblance of a cable car.
The secretary printed his hand at the first tramline system in Sitio Santa Rita
to be remembered as the first-ever tramline he inaugurated in ZamPen. Present
during the ceremonies were Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, City
Councilor Reynerio Candido (who represented Mayor Celso Lobregat), Philmech
Director David Julian and heads of the different DA attached agencies and
bureaus. Likewise, residents of barangay La Paz. (Remai S. Alejado/da9)
