Kidapawan City-The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) conducted a progress billing of the I-BUILD subproject Concreting of Sumbac-Onica farm-to-market road (FMR) in Kidapawan City last July 17, 2020.

I-BUILD Rural Infrastructure Engineer Anthony Carl Orbe, of PRDP-Project Support Office Mindanao, together with the Regional Program Coordination Office XII staff and the City Government of Kidapawan officials, led the actual inspection in the area and discussed matters related to its implementation with the beneficiaries of the project.

The PhP130.28 million worth Sumbac-Onica FMR has a total length of 9.14 kilometers starting from Barangay Sumbac and ending at Barangay Onica. Once completed, the road will benefit 6,451 beneficiaries or about 1,559 households within the road influence area especially because this road is the nearest route going to the city’s trading center in Poblacion, Kidapawan City. The FMR subproject is now already 35% completed.

Project monitoring of the on going road construction after the ECQ was lifted. (Photo by Kevin Quinto| RPCO-12 )

This project will minimize transport travel, improve transport efficiency of agricultural products and improve the drainage systems of the affected localities. Trade and commerce will have access to vital infra facilities which will expedite the delivery of farm produce and lessen the transportation costs and minimize travel time from the road influence areas to the market site. In effect, providing convenience to all forms and aspects of daily activities of the affected localities will be the essential goal of this proposed project.

 Better farm-to-market roads will help expand market access by reducing constraints on lack of accessible road networks and increasing agricultural productivity and profitability thereby propelling economic growth and development in the target areas especially among farming communities.

PRDP is an initiative of the government envisioned to increase farm and fishery productivity and incomes in target areas. It seeks to achieve this objective by improving access of farmers and other industry players to a strategic network of infrastructure, market information and support services. (Carl Ulysess Aguillon| InfoACE 12/ Joy Montecalvo| PSO Mindanao/)