The Province of Maguindanao has already completed two subprojects under the infrastructure component of DA-PRDP which provides ease in transportation as well as other emerging benefits to its people.

One of this is the Barangay Manion Farm-to-Market Road which has a length of 3 kilometres  and a total worth of P29.53 million. Before this road was concreted, farmers and residents were having a difficult time in bringing their produce to the market due to muddy road conditions. They used  to bring their harvest by carabao to the highway because trucks couldn’t reach their community.

Now that this road is finally completed, residents like Abdullah Raupan can now tell their stories on how this road changed their lives in a positive way.

“Before, our usual travel time going to the town center took around 20 to 30 minutes. But now, with the roads open, trucks can easily reach our farms to pick up our produce and travel time is reduced to just 10 minutes. The students here can go to school and go home in clean shoes and uniforms without getting muddy,” said Raupan.

Maguindanao currently has 18 subprojects of which thirteen (13) are infrastructure subprojects under the IBUILD component with five (5) are enterprise subprojects under the IREAP component.

These IBUILD subprojects have a total cost of P825.05 million which is allocated for 11 farm-to-market roads (FMR’s) with a combined length of 71.26 kilometers, one (1) potable water supply level II,  and one FMR with bridge.

These subprojects are implemented in the municipalities of  Parang with four (4) FMR’s worth P163.58 million; Datu Odin Sinsuat with two (2) FMRs and one (1) potable water supply (PWS) level II worth P183.13 million;  Sultan Sa Barongis with one FMR worth P50.28 million; Ampatuan with two (2) FMR’s worth P85.64 million; Shariff Aguak with one (1) FMR worth P23.89 million; Buluan with one (1) FMR worth P119.16 million; and Talayan with one (1) FMR with bridge worth P199.38 million.

In support of existing farmers’ cooperatives, the IREAP component also provides support through the Goat Multiplication, Fattening and Marketing subprojects in the municipalities of Mangudadatu, Gen. S. K. Pendatun, Rajah Buayan, Buluan; and Sultan Sa Barongis with a total cost of P11.11 million.

These enterprise subproject are participated by lead proponent groups including Maslabeng Group of Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Kalian Bangsamoro Womens Agri Marketing Cooperative, Badak Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Lumpingan Agri-Preneur Marketing Cooperative, and Mawalao MNLF Multi-Purpose Cooeprative.

The Goat Multiplication, Fattening and Marketing subproject is a priority commodity in the Province of Maguindanao. The cooperative aims to increase the population of meat-type goats for chevon production, through crossbreeding and fattening.  Its target markets are the organized chevon consumers, farmers who are interested in goat raising and fattening, meat vendors in the nearby towns and cities, and government and non-government organizations who are into goat dispersals.

With the on-going implementation of P836.17 million worth of subprojects for both the infrastructure and enterprise components of DA-PRDP, it is hoped that the farmers’ income in Maguindanao will increase and the lives of the people will ultimately become better. (Joy M. Montecalvo)