The Municipality of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro broke ground for the Concreting of Brgy. Teresita – Brgy. Waygan – Brgy. Balugo Farm to Market Road (FMR), a 6.54-kilometer-long access road that aims to provide a safe, convenient, and cost-effective road for the residents of three barangays, January 17, 2024.

This Php149.78 million-worth subproject will benefit 9,369 residents, including the indigenous group of Mangyans. It aims to create easy access to national highways to help farmers, mostly banana (Cardava) producers, reduce travel time and costs and to have better access to local markets.  

The said groundbreaking ceremony was headed by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) – MIMAROPA’s Regional Executive Director Maria Christine Inting and Deputy Project Director Annielyn Del Rosario. It was also attended by the Municipal Government of Mansalay Oriental Mindoro led by Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag.

Mayor Ferdinand Maliwanag expressed his thanks for their upcoming FMR. In the mayor’s speech, he expressed his excitement for the residents in the area who will finally have proper access to markets and schools.

“Sabik na sabik po kaming mga mamamayan ng Mansalay lalo na sa tatlong barangay na matupad ang pangarap na magkaroon ng magandang kalsada. Sapagkat malaking tulong po ito lalo sa mga katutubo at mga mamamayan na mapagaan ang daloy ng kanilang mga produkto at saka po sa mga estudyante na ang layo ng lakarin bago maka-abot sa eskwelahan,” Mayor Maliwanag shared.

(We, the residents of Mansalay, are excited for our dream access road to come to life, especially those who live in the three barangays. This will be a huge help, most especially to the indigenous groups, to facilitate the faster transport of goods. This will also help students who walk miles just to get to school.)

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Director Inting congratulated the local government for their effort in making the subproject possible despite the hurdles along the way. She also assured that the DA and the LGU will be working together to assist the community in developing the agricultural sector. After the program, the groundbreaking and burying of the capsule was conducted as a sign of the beginning of construction. # (Denice Joelle A. Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DPD Del Rosario, Mayor Maliwanag, and RED Inting together with subproject beneficiaries from Brgy. Teresita, Brgy. Waygan, and Brgy. Balugo.
(Photo by Denice Joelle A. Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

(Left to right) DPD Del Rosario, Mayor Maliwanag, and RED Inting along with key LGU officials initiates burying of the capsule as a sign of the start of construction.
(Photo by Denice Joelle A. Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)