Following COVID-19 safety protocols, the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office Caraga conducted a joint inspection together with the City Project Management Implementing Unit (CPMIU) and Barangay Tungao Officials in Butuan City.

They inspected the 9.82 kilometer Concreting of Lauan-Tud-ol Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Barangay Tungao and San Mateo, Butuan City.

Constant monitoring and inspection of the subproject ensure that the project implementation follows the quality and standard imposed by the project. The use of tools like the geo-tagging camera android application also helps in documenting the project while promoting transparency to the actual situation on the ground.

This P158 million FMR subproject will provide access to agricultural produce and 2,450 residents of the barangays included in the road influence area. The said road will also cover in its influence area a total of 2,122 hectares of agricultural land.

Once completed, this project aims to reduce travel time from 5.09 minutes per km to 3.05 minutes km (or from 50 minutes to 30 minutes). It also aims to increase the average daily traffic by 2.05% to 2.35% every five (5) years; decrease the hauling cost by 30%; increase rubber production area by 82.5%; reduce transport losses in transporting produce by 1%; enhance access to the delivery of social services in the influence area; promote safety to commuters and road users; and to improve road network for a better access to neighboring community by 100%.

This FMR is under the Intensified Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development or IBUILD Component OF DA-PRDP which establishes strategic and climate-resilient rural infrastructures along priority commodity value chain.

The Philippine Rural Development Project is a six-year (6) World Bank funded project designed to establish the government platform for a modern, climate-smart and market-oriented agri-fishery sector. PRDP will partner with the LGUs and the private sector in providing key infrastructure, facilities, technology, and information that will raise incomes, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside. (With reports from InfoACE 13| JOY M. MONTECALVO)