Close monitoring of subprojects is one of the keys to the successful implementation of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

A team from the Regional Project Coordination Office IX (RPCO IX) and the  Project Support Office Mindanao (PSO Mindanao) visited the on-going implementation of the Rehabilitation/Concreting of NRJ Gatas, Kalawit-Batayan-Poblacion (Pagkaing Bayan)-Daniel Maing-Gabu, Labason-Lawigan-Osukan farm-to-market road in Zamboanga del Norte last January 30, 2020. 

This FMR project is the longest and the biggest road project of the DA-PRDP under the additional financing with a total length of 32.27 kilometers and a total budget of P461,952,940.38. Regional Project Coordination IBUILD Head Engr. Juanito Taripe led the site visit, inspection and monitoring activity with Deputy Project Director Engr. Danilo Alesna, PSO Mindanao IBUILD head Engr. Ma. Fe Gabunales, and Heribeto Payopelin Jr. of GGU RPCO IX.

The team visited and inspected the batching plant, bunk house, and construction site of the project. Contractors were reminded during their exit meeting on the importance of proper storage of construction materials to ensure they will remain in good quality. They also emphasized the proper documentation of the road works and monitoring lists to ensure that they keep on track with their targets. 

This unpaved road will soon be concreted once the Kalawit-Labason FMR will be completed (Photo by Joy Montecalvo/ PSO Min)

In consonance with the general guidelines of the PRDP, this FMR project aims to facilitate and fast track the agro-economic and commercial development of the barangays, as rubber producing areas.

Upon completion, the FMR is also expected to reduce the travel time of residents, farmers, and traders, in the transport of farm products within and outside the road influence area (RIA) barangays to local markets from 169 minutes to just 84.5 minutes or about  50% the current travel time.

Aside from that, the subproject aims to increase the traffic count along the road network within the RIA by sixty percent (60.0%); to reduce hauling cost of farm products from the farms to the markets, especially on rubber, and coconut, from an average of P1.00 per kilo, to an average of P0.50 per kilo (50%); and  to reduce post-harvest losses of rubber by 5.00%, coconut by 0.30%, corn by 0.80%, and rice by 0.83%. 

The beneficiaries of the subproject entered into an Implementation Management Agreement (IMA) under a “counter-counter” parting scheme where they shall provide payment for the equity, and where the LGU also undergoes series of training for capacity building.(Joy M. Montecalvo)