Two (2) road networks is nearing completion in the Municipalities of Cabarroguis and Aglipay, Quirino, designed to connect more than 900 households and shall service at least 1,400 hectares of crops with 98% and 95% accomplishment respectively.

“These farm-to-market roads, the PRJ-Dibibi-Dingasan FMR in Cabarroguis and the National Road Junction- Ligaya-Villa Pagaduan FMR in Aglipay are part of the 27 billion fund implemented throughout the country through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in order to achieve inclusive growth,” said Regional Project Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr.

He said once completed, the road networks will provide greater level of accessibility to farmer beneficiaries especially in the expansion of coffee production areas and the improvement of the province‟s value added product.

“With good roads, it is faster to transport and market coffee products, increasing its buying price. A good road linking the production and influence areas to the market yields higher selling price for coffee growers,” he added.

The expected time of completion is on the last week of March, even earlier if a good weather condition permits continuous construction.

The road networks

The rehabilitation of PRJ-Dibibi-Dingasan FMR in Cabarroguis spans over 3.8 kilometers benefitting 406 households and covers 416 hectares of land planted with major commodities such as rice, corn, coffee, banana, high value crops and fruit bearing trees.

The project amounting to Php 39.16 million commenced construction in March of 2016.

The rehabilitation of National Road Junction- Ligaya-Villa Pagaduan FMR in Aglipay on the other hand, has a total length of 5.30 kilometers that traverses over three towns; Ligaya, Dagupan and Villa Pagaduan. This road network benefits 510 households, covering 1,030 hectares of road influence areas which are planted with rice, corn, banana, coffee, cassava, cacao, fruit and vegetables, root crops, sweet potato and ube.

The project worth Php 48.85 million also started its construction in March, 2016.

Perceived benefits

For years, the people within the road areas had to endure long hours of travel to go to other places, but with the almost complete FMRs, it is expected to reduce travel time.

Based on the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) of coffee, the construction/rehabilitation of the two road networks particularly those that link the potential and existing coffee plantation to market and input/ service suppliers is vital in the rehabilitation of coffee plantation areas as well in increasing its production.

With its near completion stage, the roads are perceived to ease transportation woes especially in the hauling of agricultural products in and out of the areas benefited during rainy season which makes the roads difficult to traverse.

Moreover, the roads will accommodate all types of vehicles, including 6 to 10 wheelers owned by traders to effortlessly reach the area all year round.

“The road networks also plays a significant socio-economic role in the development of the area, not to mention it will increase its land value, economic and potential attractiveness to agribusiness ventures.”

The province of Quirino capitalized on the benefits it could get from the infrastructure component of the Project. Being the first two projects about to be completed, it will surely boost the overall effort of the local government unit to develop the agriculture sector. (Jaycee M. Capalungan, DA-PRDP RPCO2 InfoACE)