The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) through its Regional Project Coordinating Office XII turned-over recently, a 13.3-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) subproject to the Local Government Unit-Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. 

Mayor Charles Ploteña and the local officials of the municipality received the turn-over certificate in a ceremony from the Regional Project Coordination Office 12, represented by Engr. Jocelyn Torres, I-BUILD Component Head. 

The Concreting of Saliao-Daladap-Guiamalia FMR is worth more than PhP159-million, with a fifteen-million counterpart from LGU-Esperanza.

“I would like to thank the local concerted efforts of our local officials in preparing all the necessary documents for the implementation of the subproject,” Mayor Ploteña said.

He added that even though the process was tedious and extensive, it was still worth the wait.

Engineer Jocelyn Torres encouraged the LGU officials to devise a plan to maintain the project sustainability.

“We are asking help from you. If we want to extend the life of this road project, let us find ways in order to sustain this and secure its quality for the long run,” Torres noted.

RPCO 12 I-BUILD Component Head and Regional Agriculture Engineering Division Head Engr. Jocelyn Torres gives a message during the program.

She also asked the barangay officials and farmer groups to actively participate in monitoring the PRDP-funded road.

The 13.3 km road is also an access road for five barangays of Esperenza where rice, corn and coconut production flourish and is already serving 4, 150 farming communities in the said municipality for a year after its completion.

One of the farmers who blissfully shared his experience on the new road project was Jesus Ferrer, a rice and corn farmer tilling one and a half hectare of production area.

“With this concrete road, I can now save PhP 5,000 to 7,000 for the transportation cost,” Ferrer said. (Carl Ulysses Aguillon)