“Layden me din project esungaepapati me ta dumateng di kalsadasinakad-an me” (We want the project so let us do our best for the road to reach our town) clamored the residents along the proposed Improvement/ Opening of Dada-Kayapa FMR in the municipality of Bakun, Benguet.

Proposed under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), beneficiaries were consulted on September 21, 2016 at sitio Beyeng, Poblacion, Bakun. As such, they were informed on the scope and design standards of PRDP for proposed FMRs and other technical aspects.

Bakun Mayor Fausto T. Labiño, in his message, stated that “consultation with the community is very important before moving to the next steps in the implementation of development projects”.

“Di purpose na din entakonatupogan et ta damagen da nu laydenyo din project esungadenggenyo din ebaga da ta damagenyo nu wada di laydenyodamagenpanggep sin project, ta ela-enyometlang nu wadamaapektaran sin loteyo” (the purpose of this activity is to consult you about the project and if you want it so you must listen to them and raise the questions you want to ask about the project), he added.

The project beneficiaries were as well informed of their rights to participate in changing the subproject design and their rights to compensation if any of their properties will be affected.

During the consultation, concerns regarding the residential/agricultural lands and grave sites that are most likely to be affected by the project were raised. Residents were then advised to submit their names to the MLGU to be verified during the survey for the proposed project. A particular issue raised was on the waiver and documents required for the lands that will be affected.

Meanwhile, the proposed subproject, with an approximate length of 26.10 kilometers was divided into two phases. The first phase is the improvement/opening of Dada-Nasocyongan, Bulisay FMR (12km) and the second phase is the improvement/ opening of Pilpil-Nasocyongan, Bulisay FMR (14.10km). Crops grown along the area includes coffee, white potato, purple yam, cassava, sweet pepper, carrots, cabbage, sugar cane, corn, banana, pigeon pea and gabi among others.

The consultation was joined by representatives from the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) I-BUILD and Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) units, Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) ad from the Provincial and Municipal LGUs. (ESTaquio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE)