by Mark Anthony Gallibu (RPCO2 Writer)

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Two (2) farm-to-market roads (fmr) get approval from the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) and will soon start construction to benefit tomato and mungbean farmers in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, and Santiago City, Isabela, on April 19, 2024.

The rehabilitation of Poblacion-Labang FMR in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, costs 88 million PHP and spans 3.38 km, while the rehabilitation of Rizal-Abra FMR in Santiago City, Isabela, costs 77.4 million PHP and spans 7.70 km, respectively.

Regional Executive and Project Director Rose Mary Aquino presided over the second regular meeting under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up. Gearing up for the scale-up, Aquino said that the infrastructure support will be beneficial to the supported agricultural commodities along the road influence area.

Ambaguio Mayor Ronelio Danao said the proposal for the farm-to-market road will help the highland town create a more accessible market for direct buyers to come to Ambaguio and pick up the tomatoes and sell them to consumers. “Our primary concern is the farmers’ access to markets. While farms are hard to reach, produce is easy to perish. This farmer will really help our town in so many ways, and agriculture is one of them.”

With a combined amount of 165.4 million PHP, the project will benefit 964 households, a majority of which are involved in farming and fishing in Ambaguio and Santiago City.

The following RPAB members were present at the meeting: DILG representative, Engr. Jayron Andres; DAR PRDP focal person, Engr. Andres Cafugauan; DPWH representative, Engr. Edwin Galano; DTI ARD Winston Singun; NCIP representative Reynel Paguirigan; and DENR representative, Diosdao Callueng.