FARM-TO-MARKET roads (FMRs) worth P860 million in the Davao region will soon ground break after the Regional Program Advisory Board (RPAB) approved their funding under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Program (DA-PRDP). The road-rehabilitation project is 59.4 kilometers long.
The province of Davao del Sur got the biggest chunk of the approved fund with P373.9 million for two road projects. In Sulop the 15-km road rehab from Waterfall to Osmeña costs P224.5 million, while P149.4 million is allocated for another road rehab connecting San Isidro, Hagonoy to Km. 67, Matanao, with a length of 14.3 kms.
Around P300 million is apportioned for the three road projects in Mati City, Davao Oriental. These are the rehabilitation of NHJ Sains to Central FMR (6.6 kms) worth P118 million; Bañoz FMR (5 kms) for P97.5 million; and Colina FMR (6.8 kms) for P84.5 million.
Compostela Valley province has a share of P185.9 million for a 10.6-kilometer FMR connecting Barangay Cabinuangan to Barangay Magangit in the municipality of New Bataan. Davao del Norte has an allocation of P159.8 million for Sonlon-Camansa FMR with a road length of 9.8 kms. in New Corella. The approval of the project proposals by the RPAB paves the way of improving road networks in Davao region, linking production areas to the markets.
“Better road networks boost the economic activities of the project beneficiaries by reducing travel time, postharvest losses and transportation costs of passengers and their priority commodities, ” said Ma. Febe T. Orbe, deputy program director of PRDP-Regional Program Coordinating Office XI. Janelle Flores, DA XI