The New Construction of San Antonio - Parang - Saysain Farm to Market Road is a 15 kilometer road that will benefit 9,752 residents and 2,043 households in the municipality of Bagac, Bataan. The FMR is now reported to have a physical progress of 47.34%. (Photo by Engr. Romel Tiangco, RPCO3 I-BUILD) New FMR to ease farming issues in rural Bataan
Farmers are the back bone of the nation. Without them, food security of the future generations will not be possible. Efficient delivery of the farmers’ products ensures freshness, this in return yields higher income for the farmers. With higher income, the continuous operations of farmers are assured.
Through the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) based on the value chain analysis for sweet potato, the farmers of Bagac, Bataan identified the rough condition of roads to be a major constraint in their operations.
Putting this constraint in mind, the Provincial Government of Bataan with the support of the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) proposed the sub-project New Construction of San Antonio – Parang – Saysayin farm to market road (FMR) in Bagac, Bataan.
The San Antonio – Parang – Saysayin farm to market road is 15.031 kilometers long and will benefit barangays San Antonio, Parang, Saysayin and Ibis. A total of 9,752 residents and 2,043 households of Bagac will be the beneficiaries of the sub-project once completed.
Aside from sweetpotato other crops such as potato, rice, corn and coconut are also planted and hauled in the area.
“This is a dream come true for our small farmers. Land that cannot be utilized can now be used, thanks to the new road,” said Jaime D. Ambat, Barangay Captain of Parang, Bagac, Bataan.
He added, “this will benefit not only us residents but more especially, this project will benefit those from the next generations. This is a milestone of our barangay.”
Furthermore, the sub-project specifically aims to reduce input cost of goods by 25% from market to farm and output hauling cost of produce by 25% from farm to designated market; reduce travel time of the commuters by 50%; to expand existing sweet potato production area by up to 315 hectares; to provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to the skilled and unskilled workers within the area upon the construction of the subproject; to increase traffic count in the area; and to open up other development potential other than sweetpotato production.
Currently, the FMR is reported to have a physical progress of 47.34%. (Kayla Lingad, RPCO3 InfoACE)
