Farm-to-market roads (FMR) have contributed to many success stories of our farmers across the regions.

During this time of COVID-19 pandemic compounded by a series of calamities that hit the country, faster delivery of agricultural products is a must in order to supply enough food for the people.

The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) has been one of the key instruments in the construction of several roads throughout the six regions of Mindanao through its infrastructure development or IBUILD component.

To date, PRDP has 134 farm-to-market roads (FMR’s); 11 FMR’s with bridges; three (3) communal irrigation systems; 14 potable water supply; and 30 other infrastructure subprojects which are mostly post-harvest facilities. This sums up to a total of 192 approved infrastructure development subprojects.

So far, DA-PRDP has completed a total of 125 infrastructure subprojects amounting to P4.52 billion; 63 of which are under construction worth P5.710 billion; and four (4) already under procurement worth P17.20 million with a total cost of P10.252 billion. There are also 57 subprojects still on pipeline worth P5.81 billion.

These investments from the project have translated into reduced travel time, provision of safer modes of transportation, faster delivery of goods, increased number in traffic count, lower transportation costs, and reduction on post-harvest losses.

These projects will also change the lives of 1,017,149 individual beneficiaries or 229, 969 households in Mindanao.

Based on ranking, Region 11 has the highest number of beneficiaries reaching 278,084 in total, followed by Region 12 with 212,899, Region 10 with 206,489, Region 9 with 138, 792, Region 13 with 135,534, and BARMM with 45,351 beneficiaries.

That’s why despite the difficulties in implementing projects on the ground during the pandemic, PRDP has actively looked for solutions to continue implementing their projects in order to deliver these subprojects to the beneficiaries according to schedule.

Aside from that, the construction of roads in the community also provided additional sources of income to residents in their respective areas of influence.

Jimwell Nomoc, an indigenous people (IP) resident living in Barangay Nomoh in Maasim, Saragani, said that he benefited from the project when he was hired as one of the workers during the construction Kanalo-Nomoh farm-to-market road.

“I used to work in another company before. When I returned here, this FMR project from DA-PRDP provided us another source of income. Residents are given priority to work as part of the skilled workers in the construction of this road in Brgy. Nomoh,” said Nomoc.

Close coordination and good partnership with Local Government Units and contractors really helped in the project implementation despite restrictions and lockdowns in different provinces. (JOY MONTECALVO)