The City Government of Puerto Princesa in Palawan is among the most active and committed local government units (LGUs) in the South Cluster when it comes to implementing PRDP farm-to-market road (FMR) subprojects.

That is according to Engr. Allan Tatierra, PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) infrastructure development (I-BUILD) Component Head. He said that unlike other LGUs in the cluster, the Puerto Princesa City LGU has staff who are specifically assigned to the implementation of PRDP subprojects in the city.

Puerto Princesa City Project Engineer Leonida Kho shared that the staff involved in PRDP are the ones who also participate in PRDP trainings, meetings, and other activities. She explained that having dedicated staff ensures the continuity and sustainability of subproject management and implementation.

The “Concreting of Bukang Liwayway–Makandring FMR” in Brgy. Langogan is the city’s first I-BUILD subproject. This eight-kilometer FMR is also the third PRDP FMR subproject to be completed in the MIMAROPA Region and in the South Luzon Cluster.

“’Yong commitment talaga ng mga naka-assign ang importante (The commitment of the assigned staff is really important),” Engr. Kho said.

She added, “Ako, hindi ako nagtatrabaho dahil kay mayor. Ako ay nagtatrabaho dahil sa mga tao. Kasi kami laging exposed [sa komunidad], nakikita namin ’yong buhay nila na wala silang kalsada. Hirap na hirap sila (Me, I am not working, because of the mayor. I am working, because of the people. Because we are always exposed [to the community], we can see their life without an access road. It is very difficult for them).”

Worth P84.9 million, the newly completed FMR now serves at least ___ individuals and ___ households in Brgy. Langogan. According to Brgy. Langogan Chairperson Camilo Bebit, the FMR is such a big help to their community, particularly to the farmers and students.

Vivencio Kaabay Sr., a farmer and resident of Sitio Makandring in Brgy. Langogan shared, “Ang kagandahan po nito [FMR], maganda na ang kabuhayan ng mga tao dito na lubos nilang napakinabangan ang programa ng gobyerno at ’yong aming mga produkto na lumalabas ay medyo magaan na sa aming pakiramdam ilabas dahil maganda na ang daanan ng mga sasakyan. Medyo nakakamura na kami sa gastusin kumpara noong wala pang kalsada (The benefit of this [FMR] is that the livelihood of residents [here] improved that they have maximized the program of the government. Bringing our products to the market has been a relief because the road is now better for the vehicles. We have lower expenses now compared to the time when there is no road yet).”

He added, “Kaya marami nang nagkaka-interes mag-aral na mga estudyante ng Langogan dahil nga sa kagandahan na ibinigay ng gobyerno na kabutihan sa amin. Ibig sabihin, talagang napakalaki ang naiambag ng kalsada na ’yan na ginawa sa amin (Many students in Langogan are now becoming more interested and inspired to study because of the kindness of the government. That means that the road constructed here really contributed a lot).” ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)

Puerto Princesa City Project Engineer Leonida Kho (inset) shows the concreted section of the Bukang Liwayway–Makandring farm-to-market road (FMR). She said that the commitment of the assigned subproject staff is crucial to the success of the subproject implementation. Worth P84.9 million, the newly completed FMR now serves at least 2,111 individuals and 528 households in Brgy. Langogan. (Photo by Ana Francesca L. Chavez)