The Department of Agriculture – Calabarzon Regional Operations and Maintenance Audit Team (DA-4A ROMAT) inspected three completed DA – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Farm-to Market Roads (FMRs) in Quezon and Batangas. This is to check the current condition and functionality of the subprojects and how the proponent local governments and communities are maintaining the subprojects’ operations and sustainability.

The subprojects were the Concreting of Camflora FMR Project in San Andres, Quezon, Concreting of Barangay Binay, Bosuk Bosukan, San Vicente FMR in San Narciso, Quezon, and the Improvement of Brgy. Sto. Niño to Brgy. Piña FMR with Bridge in Taysan, Batangas. These subprojects cater to the virgin coconut oil and mango industries and benefit a total of 56,892 individuals. The total cost of these subprojects is Php 266 M.

Based on the inspection, all FMRs are already being utilized for transportation and hauling of agricultural inputs and outputs. Beneficiaries on all three subprojects claim a significant improvement in their transportation quality and productivity in farming. With the substantial convenience brought by the subprojects in their community, more livelihood opportunities also emerged for the locals. Some have established linkages with more buyers, while others opened up stores and other types of business in their communities.

“Malaki po ang benepisyo ng kalsada sa amin dahil napakadali na pong pumunta sa bayan para magdala at magbenta ng mga ani. Hindi na po kami babayad nang malaki sa pagpapahakot at madadala na namin agad ang mga produkto sa bentahan kahit umuulan,” shared Marcelo Buela, a farmer from Brgy. Piña, Taysan, Batangas.

Meanwhile, LGUs in San Narciso and Taysan reported active community participation in maintaining the subprojects, particularly in the clearing operations. Barangay LGUs in Taysan have also implemented ordinances on speed and weight limits for vehicles passing through the road to avoid damages and accidents.

Every year, the DA-4A ROMAT conducts inspections on completed DA-PRDP subprojects as part of its monitoring and evaluation efforts on DA interventions for the agricultural and fisheries sector. For FMRs, the DA-4A ROMAT assesses the structural integrity of the infrastructure and the operations and maintenance efforts of proponent LGUs to gauge the sustainability of the project and ensure prolonged benefits for target communities. #

As part of the inspection, the DA-4A ROMAT meets with the barangay LGUs to check their ongoing efforts with the municipal LGU to maintain the integrity and sustainability of the FMR subproject in their community. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

DA-4A ROMAT Engineer Marvin Publico documents the current condition of the Barangay Binay, Bosuk Bosukan, San Vicente FMR in San Narciso, Quezon using the DA-PRDP geo mapping application. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

Taysan Municipal Engineer Albert Cueto shares to the DA-4A ROMAT photos of Brgy. Piña residents participating in a cleanup drive in the FMR area. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

To evaluate the overall performance of the inspected subprojects, various aspects are being considered by the DA-4A ROMAT, among them are its physical status and the collaborative efforts of the local government units and communities on maintaining the operations of the subprojects. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

The 6.71 km FMR in Brgy. Camflora, San Andres, Quezon is currently benefiting several farming families in the barangay as it links them to various markets and opportunities situated by the national highways and the town proper. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

DA-4A ROMAT Engineer Neren Jane Rodriguez and DA-PRDP 4A Monitoring and Evaluation Officer MJ Gonzaga inspect the structural integrity of the Brgy. Sto. Niño-Piña FMR with Bridge in Taysan, Batangas. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)