Two farm-to-market roads (FMR) aimed at improving the quality of transportation and hauling of agricultural products are now being constructed in Agoncillo, Batangas and Tagkawayan, Quezon. The FMR projects are funded under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) which aims to improve food security and strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector in the country through rural infrastructure and enterprise development projects.

The FMRs will connect rural barangays to major highways and markets to facilitate the transportation and trading of agricultural products. The 10-kilometer Tagkawayan FMR will connect barangays Sta. Monica, Sto. Niño, and Manato Station to the local major road networks such as the Quirino and Maharlika highways. Meanwhile, the 4.6-kilometer Agoncillo FMR will link barangays Barigon and Bilibinwang to nearby municipalities Laurel and Talisay and the province of Cavite.

A total of 13,740 individuals will benefit from the FMR projects. Agricultural productivity and farmers’ income are expected to increase and other socio-economic benefits in the localities are also expected to emerge after the construction of the FMRs. 

DA-PRDP Regional Project Director Abelardo Bragas expressed his optimism on the impact of the FMRs on the agriculture and fisheries sector. According to him, not only will the farmers have better access to markets, but they will also have easier access to interventions and opportunities from the Department of Agriculture to further improve and enrich their production and significantly contribute to the strengthening of food security in the country.

Clearing operations have already been done in the areas where the Barigon-Bilibinwang FMR in Agoncillo, Batangas will be constructed. (Photo from GGU CALABARZON)

The DA-PRDP team, members of the Agoncillo LGU, and the project contractor get a closer look of the FMR site in Brgy. Bilibinwang as they set off for a site validation. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

DA-PRDP RPCO CALABARZON Project Director Abelardo Bragas and members of the Tagkawayan LGU discuss the specifics of the construction of the Tagkawayan FMR during a site validation of the area. (Photo by Von Samuel Panghulan)

To ensure that all parties of the Tagkawayan FMR project are on the same page about the project implementation, representatives from the DA-PRDP, Tagkawayan LGU, and the contractor participated in the site validation. (Photo by Von Samuel Panghulan)