by Mayrich Taguba-Soriano, RPCO2 InfoACE

A better way to celebrate this heart’s month is by giving love to our farmers by providing them with access to better roads.

On February 8, 2025, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project Regional Project Coordination Office 02 officially turned over the Digumased-Ayod farm-to-market road with bridge in Dinapigue, Isabela.

The newly concreted 8.325-kilometer road inclusive of a 200-meter bridge with a total project cost of P254,655,873.70 will directly benefit 379 households covering 1,635 total beneficiaries residing in barangays Bucal Sur, Bucal Norte, Dimaluade, Ayod, and Digumased.

The subproject aims to give new opportunities for better education, economy growth, and better means of transportation. Specifically, it will reduce travel time, input/output hauling cost, and transport losses and increase production.

The activity was graced by Honorable Joseph S. Tan, 4th District Representative of Isabela, Regional Executive Director and Project Director Rose Mary G. Aquino, Regional Technical Director and Deputy Project Director Kay S. Olivas, Mayor Vicente D. Mendoza, Vice Mayor Reynaldo D. Derije, together with their Sangguniang Bayan Members, respective Heads of the uniformed services in the municipality, representatives from the Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Barangay Officials, and farmers’ associations.

In his message, Congressman Tan expressed his gratitude to the DA-PRDP RPCO 2 for their continuous support towards uplifting the lives of Isabeleños through project implementation such as farm-to-market road.

Moreover, DPD Olivas advised the Dinapigueños to maintain the road as this is a rare opportunity for a coastal area to have been given such project.

In her message, RED Aquino commended all the people behind the successful project. “As we turn over this project, we also ask you to turn over your commitment to the project by boosting your production and proposing small or medium enterprises as better roads lead to better livelihood”, she said.

In response, Mayor Mendoza, together with Vice Mayor Derije and other SB members, thanked the RPCO 2 and pledged to use the project towards agriculture and fishery development of the municipality.