Iloilo City – The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) together with the local government unit of Negros Occidental jointly led the ground breaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Farm to Market Roads (FMRs) connecting Sitio Magtu-od and Sitio Vergara, in the municipality of Toboso and Barangay Caduhaan to Sitio Aluyan in the city of Cadiz last May 27, 2015.

UnderSecretary Emerson U. Palad said that the two FMRs were the first subproject to be implemented by PRDP Visayas cluster worth P181,995,000.00 which will benefit a total of 2,992 households with a total population of 15,151 agricultural stakeholders.

Palad stressed that the construction of the FMR will have a multiplier effects among the farmer-beneficiaries around the service area.

He said that various business opportunities will come along the way with the construction of PRDP FMR project with thickness of 11 inches (280 mm) and width of four meters and length of 4.2 kilometers for the Toboso FMR and five meters width and length of 12.46 kilometers in Cadiz city.

Palad said that farmer beneficiaries should feel a sense of ownership and cooperate to maintain and take good care of the project.

“I am appealing to the local officials especially to the barangay to pass an ordinance requiring load limits in the utilization of these FMRs in order to preserve and maximize its utilization.” Palad added.

Meanwhile, Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. of Negros Occidental was very thankful for the Aquino administration of the many projects allotted for the province especially for the farmers.

He encouraged the farmers to plant various commodities, diversify their respective areas and not only rely on sugarcane production. “You can plant cacao and other high value crops which are really suited in our soils.” Marañon added.

Governor Marañon told the youths to finish their high school curriculum and develop their skills though TESDA courses because of many opportunities from the neighboring countries.

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. encourages the contractors to involve locals in the contruction of the FMR in Sitio Caduhaan, Cadiz

Testimonies and Expectations

Testimonials of Ms. Liezel Dalin School Head of Sitio Vergara Elementary School (left) and of Mr. Leonardo Santiana, farmer representative from Sitio Aluyan (right)

Ms. Liezel Dalin School Head of Sitio Vergara Elementary School conferred that teaching in the far-flung elementary school tested her dedication and passion to molded the next generation. She said that managing a school with a population of 218 pupils comprising from kinder to grade six has been a challenge everyday. At times she and her fellow teachers were grateful if they can hitch-ride on six-wheeler trucks used to haul sugarcane in going to their classes. She is optimistic that with the construction of Sitio Magtu-od and Sitio Vergara FMR travel time will be shortened from one and a half hour to 40 minutes from the town proper. She added that absences of the pupils will be manage and lessen the risk on lives of pupils during rainy season because they are also traversing two creeks on their way home. Dalin was happy that eventually they can get rid of sticky and slippery muds, bads road and dust that for years has invaded their way of life as mentor of the younger generation. Lastly, Ms. Dalin said that the FMR will boost the tourism industry because of the Vergara Falls which is one of the tourist attraction of the municipality of Toboso.

Mr. Leonardo Santiana, farmer representative from Sitio Aluyan, Capiz City likewise expressed gratefulness for the FMR because this project will paved the way for easy transport of their farm products. He said that in 2012 two pupils of Aluyan Elementary School aging nine (9) and 14 years old were drowned at Sigaba Monte River as they headed home. He was happy that with the concreting of the barangay road, pupils will now have safe and accessible road to walk on after classes. The FMR will also reduce their travel time and transportation cost of the produce. “We can now easily load our products on our motorcycles and sell them to the terminal markets nearby.” Said Mr. Santiana. /JEEO RSSII InfoACE RPCO 6