Iba, ZAMBALES – Much anticipation for farmers and residents here as the 10.22-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) nears completion.

It can be recalled that farmers here had been wishing to have better road condition. Typically, it takes hours to travel from their respective barangays going to nearby markets which makes it costly and difficult in transporting local products.

Recently, the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 3) together with the Project Support Office (PSO) conducted a two-day site inspection of the subproject on February 23-24, 2021, here.

According to I-BUILD Rural Infrastructure Engineer Bon Alexis Guatato the project recently attained 80 % in its physical accomplishment despite the hindrances brought by the pandemic.

“Almost 80% of the road here have been concreted. The main goal is to have a better road network for our farmers and residents,” he added.

With a total allocation of P102 million, the Improvement of Dirita – San Agustin Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) involves the concreting of a two (2) lane pavement to improve the road system and ease up on the operating and maintenance cost of transport vehicles.

The FMR project is aimed in increasing the agricultural production outputs and will boost the mango industry as a whole similarly with the production of cassava and sweet potato.

This subproject is funded under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and will be completed and serviceable by the 2nd quarter of this year. (MA. REINA LEN G. LUNA, RPCO3 InfoACE)