TACLOBAN CITY—Construction of a P232-million farm-to-market road (FMR) funded under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) has started.
The 19.4-kilometer road linking the towns of Lilo-an and San Ricardo is the biggest PRDP-funded project in Eastern Visayas and ranks among the most expensive in the country.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the rehabilitation and improvement of the San Roque-Bahay subproject was held on March 24.
“This is the biggest PRDP-funded infrastructure subproject in the region. Perhaps, it even ranks among the highest throughout the country,” said Nichols A. Manalo, DA executive director in Eastern Visayas.
Manalo said he expects the project to boost the agriculture and tourism potentials in the area. He said the road offers on one side a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, where fish remains abundant, while the other side is a fertile expanse of land suitable for crops and livestock production. “This place has a lot to offer,” he said.
Once completed, the FMR will provide a vital link between the towns of Lilo-an and San Ricardo and benefit 2,203 households from 14 barangays between the two towns.
Among the major agricultural products in the area are coconut, rice, corn, abaca, banana and root crops. Lilo-an contributes a significant share of the province’s coconut and abaca production.
Cirilo Namoc, PRDP’s national deputy project director, said the road subproject would be beneficial to the residents in transporting their farm and fishery products to the market.
Namoc added this will open better marketing options due to reduced transport and hauling cost. He said this will entice more farmers to expand their farming operations. This will also give residents better access to technical assistance, as well as basic social services.
“It is definitely exciting to see how this road will generate impact in terms of increasing the income level of our rural constituents, especially the farmers—which is the overriding objective of the PRDP,” Namoc said.
“We expect that this road will result in a shorter travel time and lesser fare for us in bringing our farm products to the market. We are also expecting an easier marketing as buyers and traders will already be able to visit us,” said Juditha Yega, a farmer.
“This project will lessen incidence of children dropping out from school. Usually during rainy days, it is risky for students to go to school because the road becomes slippery and inaccessible for motor vehicles,” Yega added.
Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado said this project is a realization of his dream for an improved access and connectivity among the municipalities of Panaon Island.
“I dream of a better road network connecting the entire Panaon Island. This road subproject is a milestone toward that direction, and I am thankful for the support of the DA,” he said.