The past thirteen months starting on May 20, 2015, was a challenging race to complete the first two (2) Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR) approved under the 2014 Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) fund allocation. The two FMRs are the: 1) Olango -Siempre Viva-Trinidad-Manano FMR at Mallig, Isabela; and (2) Magassi-Union-Camasi FMR at Cabagan & Tumauini, Isabela. The inauguration of the two subprojects with a combined length of 14.10 kilometers is set for Saturday, July 16, 2016. These are the first subprojects to be completed in the Luzon A Cluster and hence, their completion is considered a milestone in the implementation of the PRDP in the Region and in the Cluster.

The Olango -Siempre Viva-Trinidad-Manano FMR has 1,898 households as direct beneficiaries with a total population of 8,517 while the Magassi-Union-Camasi FMR has 1,429 household beneficiaries with a total population of 5,538. The FMR in Mallig, Isabela traverses 5 barangays: Olango- Siempre Viva Norte and Sur, Manano and Trinidad while the FMR that straddles the towns of Cabagan and Tumauini serves 3 barangays in Cabagan namely: Magassi, Mabangug, Union plus barangay Camasi in Tumauini, Isabela.

The inauguration ceremony is expected to be graced by representatives from the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, National Project Coordinating Office (NPCO), the Project Support Office (PSO), the Regional Project Coordinating Office 2, the PLGU of Isabela headed by the Hon. Governor Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, and the most important attendees – the farmers and dairy producers from the covered barangays.

The completion of the roads the PRDP-way intends to underscore the importance of strict adherence to the laws, policies, processes and procedures in subproject implementation, as set forth by the World Bank. (Ma. Lourdes C. Corsino, PRDP RPCO 2)