Amidst the rain, the local government of Lucban, Quezon conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for the concreting of their repackaged farm-to-market road (FMR) last February 9.

The groundbreaking activity gave the chance for the local government officials to inform the residents and barangay officials of their intent to ensure the timely completion of the road and the resolve not to repeat the previous issues.

“Ang proyektong ito ay makabuluhang [ituloy] dahil hindi lamang ito nagdudulot ng hanapbuhay sa ating mga kababayan na naninirahan sa ating kanayunan kundi mapapabilis din ang pagkakataong madala ang produkto natin mula sa bukid patungo sa merkado (This project is worthy [to be continued] because it does not only provide livelihood to our residents in rural areas but more importantly hasten the delivery of agricultural products from the farm to the market),” Mayor Celso Olivier Dator said.

This subproject has been initially implemented starting 2015. However, due to uneven performance of the previous contractor, their contract was terminated by the local government and was approved by the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) last 2018. A repackaged proposal was then approved by board the following year. 

For DA CALABARZON OIC-Regional Executive Director Vilma Dimaculangan, this project is a testament on how a pro-active local government can achieve their goals. She also requested the barangay officials present during the groundbreaking activity to help the PRDP to monitor the FMR to ensure that all issues will be addressed.

The FMR will still traverse the barangays of Nalunao, Kalangay, Mahabang Parang, Aliliw, Kabatete, and Piis. There will be 1,543 beneficiaries among the six barangays. 

Also present were Project Director Dennis Arpia, Deputy Project Director Redelliza Gruezon, I-BUILD Component Head Christian Paul Ariola, and I-SUPPORT Component Head Avelita Rosales. # (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)