With the Department of Agriculture (DA) envisioning an inclusive agricultural development in the countryside, the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 02) spearheaded a consultative meeting among stakeholders of a proposed farm-to-market road subproject in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya on December 19, 2017 under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

RPCO 02 conducted such meeting to gather and validate existing factors that impede the implementation of the subproject. “This is the perfect opportunity for us to know exactly what needs to be done to our FMR,” Mayor Alberto Bumolo, Jr. said.

The consultative meeting gathered all stakeholders from the affected barangays of the proposed rehabilitation of the 16.88 kilometer FMR in Malabing Valley worth Php 168.80 million, including concerned officials from the provincial local government of Nueva Vizcaya, the municipality of Kasibu and technical personnel from the RPCO2.

Mayor Bumolo added that “it is essential to convene everyone, as each has a role to play in the implementation of the subproject that is expected to begin next year.”

The municipalities of Kasibu is currently in the process of finalizing the feasibility study and detailed engineering design (DED) of the proposed FMR. As per Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP), the FMR will cater to the mandarin industry of the whole of Malabing Valley.

Dr. Freddie Corsino, RPCO 02 Focal Person said that “it is imperative for proposed subprojects to be included in the PCIP to receive funding.” Fortunately for Kasibu, mandarin already has a value chain analysis report, he added.

When asked by the stakeholders why the project still has not been approved for implementation, Engr. Edgardo Sabado, Provincial Project Monitoring and Implementing Unit Head (PPMIU) explained the need to re-survey the FMR. He added that there were social concerns along the proposed subproject, and that “waivers from the affected residents cannot be obtained particularly from barangay Binogawana and Tadgii.”

“We already asked Mayor Bumolo to re-organize the MPMIU to work on the engineering design, as this is indispensable for the completion of the feasibility study,” he furthered.

Engr. Sabado gave the commitment that all lacking requirements including the DED, the certificate of non-overlap, the environmental certificate compliance, and the free and prior informed consent from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) shall be completed in about three months.

“We should re-survey every 20 meters and to double check all profiles and documents everything to ensure integrity of data.”

“The issues on road right of way must be addressed,” Dr. Corsino said. He then turned to all stakeholders present during the meeting and asked them if “they are willing to give up a portion of their lot to pave way for the completion of the FMR.”

Mayor Bumolo said that “if we really want this project to pursue, we should help each other. We also need technical people to undertake the design and program with the assistance of the regional office and the province.”

In the end, the whole group agreed that the help of the Barangay Chairmen will be sought in accomplishing the individual waivers from the residents. The signatories to the waivers in turn shall be validated by the PPMIU. (Jaycee M. Capalungan, RPCO2 InfoACE)