FLORA, Apayao – The ongoing improvement of the 11.8-kilometer Sta. Maria-Mallig-Upper Atok farm-to-market road implemented under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) is seen to benefit banana farmers, usher in development, and help address insurgency.

“The FMR will improve the delivery of goods and basic services in the area which will open opportunities for the residents and farmers to improve their living conditions,” said Apayao Provincial Agriculturist Prudencio G. Bosing.

Benefitting around 1,786 individuals, the FMR has a project cost of P195.95 million (M) shared by the World Bank (80% loan proceeds), the national government through the DA (10%), and the provincial government of Apayao (10%). It covers three barangays namely: Sta. Maria, Mallig, and Upper Atok – where bulk of the province’s banana production comes from.

“Flora is where you can find large plantations of banana and the FMR will definitely facilitate the movement of various commodities including banana, corn, rice, and other fruit trees” said Bosing.

Sta. Maria is the only barangay that has public utility transport while residents of barangay Mallig and Upper Atok uses sledge carts pulled by carabaos to reach the part in Sta. Maria where jeepneys and tricycles can be accessed.

“Gapu iti kina rigat ti kalsada lalo nu panag tutudo ket ikarga mi dagiti apit mi ti kariton nga guyuden ti carabao inggana dumanon idjay ayan ti lugan ditoy Sta. Maria (due to the poor road condition especially during rainy days, we have been using a cart pulled by a carabao until we reach Sta. Maria where vehicles reach,” said Franklino Saul, banana farmer.

Saul added that the road improvement will help them in transporting their produce and it would be easier for buyers and traders to reach them.

Further, Bosing shared that the barangays connected by the FMR is besieged by insurgency problem.

“The completion of this road will improve the reach of government programs especially in barangay Upper Atok, an End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) barangay where insurgents would usually pass through and/or rest,” he said.

Over and above peace and order, Bosing expressed that the FMR subproject will improve the socio-economic life of the residents, help avert poverty and contribute to the overall food security of the province.

The ongoing FMR subproject includes the construction/rehabilitation of existing box culvert, road widening, and construction of concrete barriers, grouted ripraps, cross drains as well as downgrading of steep road gradients.

As of May 20, 2021, the FMR subproject is at 16.65 percent physical accomplishment. Construction works started last October 2020 and is expected to end before December 2022.

Other DA-PRDP subprojects in support to banana include the completed warehouses in the municipalities of Luna, Flora, Sta. Marcela, Calanasan, and Pudtol; and the ongoing construction of banana consolidation and trading center in Flora and Conner. ### Elvy Taquio Estacio (DA-PRDP)

Aerial perspective of a portion of the FMR subproject.

Ongoing construction activities on site

Residents of barangay Upper Atok put up signs along the FMR subproject showing their advocacy against insurgency.