ABOUT P30.4 million worth of rural infrastructure projects are expected to boost agricultural production in the province of Isabela, Agrarian Reform Regional Director Marjorie Ayson said.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently signed four memorandums of agreement with the local governments of San Pablo, Mallig, Echague and Quezon for the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market road (FMR), repair of a bridge and a river-control project for the said municipalities.
Ayson said a total of 5,876 agrarian-reform beneficiaries will benefit from the projects, which are also expected to increase farm productivity and enhance the market value of the farmers’ produce.
In the agreement signed between the DAR and San Pablo Mayor Antonio Jose T. Miro, a river-control infrastructure project will be built for the municipality to avoid the overflowing of Pinacanauan River. “When the river overflows, farmers’ crops are destroyed. To avoid this, we will construct dikes along the riverbanks in Auitan to avoid flooding during heavy rains,” Ayson said.
Another project is the construction of a rural access road in Sitio Villa Corazon in Barangay Manano and the Siempre Viva-San Pedro FMR for the municipality of Mallig.
The DAR also agreed with Echague Municipal Mayor Melinda G. Kiat about the need for the maintenance of the 19-kilometer Narra, Magleticia, Salvacion and Aromin earth road and the repair of Narra bridge. The 500-meter Minagbag FMR and the 500-meter Dummon road in the municipality of Quezon will also be rehabilitated. “These infrastructure projects will be a big help for farmers in terms of transport, accessibility and connectivity,” Aysonsaid.