AROROY, MASBATE – With 75.48 percent physical progress as of March 2020, the 15-kilometer Concreting of San Agustin-Tigbao Farm-to-Market Road (FMR), in this municipality now benefits the agri-fishery sector in the community. This P242.56 million worth sub-project is funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

According to Municipal Agriculturist and Municipal Project Management and Implementation Unit (MPMIU) Head Engr. Arvin C. Ostia, mobile vendors of agricultural products are very thankful that their markets are now more accessible through the nearly completed FMR.

“Kahit ECQ alam po natin na bawal ang biyahe pero pagdating sa agricultural supply at sa food supply po natin nagkaroon tayo ng food pass lane sa municipal level para sa mga naglalako at bumibili ng isda at iba pang mga produkto. Doon sila nagbebenta sa mga bara-barangay. Dati, kumbaga nahihirapan sila, ngayon, mabilis na yung paglalako nila, konting gasolina na lang ang nako-consume nila,” Ostia said in a phone interview.

He added that the MPMIU and the contractor have completed the 10-kilometer double-lane road pavement and are waiting for the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in order to hit its target of completing the infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject by June 2020, six months ahead of schedule.

“Pinapakita namin yung the best effort namin rito para matutuloy pa rin ang pinapangarap namin na phase 2 at phase 3. Hinihintay lang namin na ma-lift na yung ECQ para makagalaw naman kami at makapasok na yung semento from Cebu. Kung hindi papayagan ng Coast Guard from Cebu, kukuha kami sa Naga. Dapat ma-lift na kaagad ang ECQ kasi minsan may problema kami sa spare parts ng heavy equipment namin. Isa pa yun sa problema namin,” he added.

In a phone interview, PRDP-Bicol I-BUILD Head Engr. Teodoro C. Eleda said that the Concreting of San Agustin-Tigbao FMR subproject in Aroroy was the biggest contributor to the region’s 114.01 percent disbursement rate as of December 31, 2019. This merited the Bicol RPCO I-BUILD team a Certificate of Recognition in Completing 100% efficiency rate. The team was also cited as the Best Performing RPCO for I-BUILD: Physical Performance Award and Financial Performance Award from PRDP Project Support Office South Luzon.

Eleda also announced that his team already sent a heads-up to all local government units with ongoing I-BUILD subprojects in the region that starting May 1, 2020, construction activities may resume in areas where General Community Quarantine (GCQ) is in place.

This FMR, located at the north-eastern part of Aroroy, is the first approved I-BUILD subproject in the municipality. It is connected at the intersection of existing barangay roads of San Agustin, Matalangtalang, and Tigbao, which are interconnected with the Central Nautical highway of the Province of Masbate. The upgrading of the road surface from earth to concrete is designed to help uplift the socio-economic status of the people living in five barangays within the road influence area including 1,836 farmer and fisherfolk households.

The MPMIU-Aroroy is currently preparing and drafting the subproject feasibility studies (FS) for its phase 2 and phase 3 proposed FMR subprojects: the 12.50-kilometer Concreting of Tigbao to Mataba FMR and the 9.50-kilometer Concreting of San Agustin-Dayhagan-Cabas-an to Macabug FMR with bridge for the approval of the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB). (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V with reports from Rhodelia S. Remot, PRDP Bicol M&E Officer)