For the province of Romblon, two (2) interventions from the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) are set to be in service for its residents by the first half of the year, as reflected during site inspections conducted from January 25-26, 2022.

The site inspections, attended by DA MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director (RED) Antonio Gerundio, OIC Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Engineer Ma. Christine Inting, and Romblon Governor Jose Riano, were focused on the 5.8-kilometer Construction/Upgrading of Barangay Pato-o Proper – Sitio Aurora, Odiongan, Romblon Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) Package I and II with 141 linear meter bridge, and the Romblon Seaweeds Production and Processing.

The FMR, with a total amount of PhP168,112,839.51, aims to address the poor road networks in the coconut producing areas of the province, which will eventually benefit the 4,700 households within its Road Influence Area.

In a site inspection conducted on January 25, RED Gerundio and Governor Riano took the time to have an informal dialogue with some of the residents in the area. The project affected people were asked about their condition now that the subproject is more than halfway done, and is expected to be completed by June 2022.

On the other hand, the I-REAP subproject is set to be completed by the first quarter of the year. With a total subproject cost of PhP14,146,699.38, this intervention includes a seaweeds processing center infrastructure, a motorized fiberglass boat, a truck, a floating bamboo dryer, and other tools and pieces of equipment necessary for seaweed processing.

In a separate interview, Santa Maria Mayor Lorilie Fabon expressed her gratitude for the provision of the processing facility to her constituents.

“Itong proyekto po na seaweeds na ibinigay sa aming bayan ay napakalaking tulong po ito kung saan ay mapapakinabangan ng ating mga mamamayan, at the same time marami po ang mae-employ lalo na ngayon na kina-kailang ng ating mga kababayan sa Santa Maria. Sana hindi lamang po itong proyekto na seaweeds and maibigay sa aming bayan kundi madami pa po para sa kapakanan ng aming bayan,” Mayor Fabon stated. 

Also present during the site inspection were representatives from the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit, DA-PRDP RPCO MIMAROPA, and the subproject contractor. (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DA RED Antonio Gerundio, CESO III, DPA and Governor Jose Riano speak with residents of Brgy. Pato-o during the site inspection of the FMR on January 25, 2022 (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DA RED) Antonio Gerundio, CESO III, DPA and OIC Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Engr. Ma. Christine Inting speaks with the president of the proponent group of the seaweeds enterprise. I-BUILD and PPMIU engineers, on the other hand, inspected the processing center nearing completion on January 26, 2022 (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)