FIFTH DA-PRDP-FUNDED FMR IN ISABELA, INAUGURATED
The P68M farm-to-market road traversing barangays Virgoneza-San Antonio-Dabubu-Sto. Niño and Quimalabasa Sur of San Agustin, Isabela was officially inaugurated and turned over by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 and the Provincial Government of Isabela to the farmer-beneficiaries.
The construction of the 8.1-kilometer road commenced in July 2018 and was completed this February 2020.
“We have now this road to ease the hardships of transporting your products from the farm to the market,” Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III said in his message.
Vice Governor Faustino G. Dy III likewise congratulated the beneficiaries of the project.
DA RFO 02 Regional Technical Director Rose Mary G. Aquino expressed her gratitude for the cooperation of the barangays during the project implementation and for maintaining the cleanliness of the roads constructed.
“This project is for you and we are but instruments to lighten your burden of transporting your harvest,” Aquino said.
The occasion was also attended by Isabela 4th District Representative Alyssa Sheena Tan, 6th District Representative Faustino “Inno” A. Dy V, and San Agustin Mayor Cesar R. Mondala with other local officials.
A run-through of the FMR followed the ribbon cutting.
Construction of a microbiological lab to commence soon
The groundbreaking of the Dairy Microbiological Facility was held afterwards at Brgy. Masaya Centro where the structure will be constructed.
Albano stressed the importance of milk in the health of the people to help fight COVID-19 by strengthening their immune system and to avoid malnutrition among the young ones.
The microbiological facility will facilitate the milk processing of the dairy cooperatives in the province and the neighboring towns.
The conduct of a physico-chemical analysis of 150,720 liters of milk coming from the different dairy farmers in San Agustin, through San Agustin Dairy Cooperative and neighboring processing centers in the region, will be achieved through the facility.
The direct beneficiaries of the project are the dairy farmers in San Agustin, members of SADACO, and its affiliated associations’ members.
San Agustin, home of the cross-bred carabao popularized by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), became known because of its Nuang Festival. It has topped other municipalities in the region in the production of dairy.
Other cooperatives and farmers in Cagayan Valley engaging in dairy business will also benefit in the establishment of the facility, which will be managed by the Philippine Carabao Center through OIC-Center Director Rovina Piñera.
Isabela records the greatest number of PRDP subprojects in Region 02
With sustained verve and zest, Isabela has a total of 21 I-BUILD subprojects and 22 I-REAP completed subprojects and stands towering over other provinces in Cagayan Valley in DA-PRDP assisted subprojects.
“We are happy to implement these subprojects to bring inclusive growth in this province. Such have benefited our farmers here,” said Governor Albano.
For infrastructure projects alone, completed SPs have reached over 500 million pesos including five FMRs with San Placido-Munoz-West Sinamar as the longest, four warehouses, and nine small water impounding projects.
“The rest are ongoing with a number over 50% actual physical accomplishment,” Isabela PRDP Action Officer Sally Valencia said.
These projects at around 50% accomplishment are the Mungbean Production and Marketing Enterprise in San Mateo, Aromatic and Pigmented Rice Production and Marketing Enterprise in Roxas, Tilapia Production and Marketing Enterprise in Ramon, Mungbean Seed in Cabatuan, and Tilapia Fingerlings Production and Marketing Enterprise in Wigan, Cordon.
An ongoing SP with impressive actual physical accomplishment is the construction of a warehouse with a solar dryer in Mallig.
The PRDP Management Information System has recorded P2B-worth of 11 infrastructure support and P12M-worth I-REAP subprojects proposed by the PLGU. (Dr. Ferdinand Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE)
