Residents in Viga, Catanduanes will formally connect abaca farms to the market in the near future, as the PhP176.97 million 5.50-kilometer Concreting of Junction Ogbong – Mabina Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) formally broke ground on January 12, 2022.

The said FMR, implemented under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), aims to upgrade the existing gravel road traversing five (5) barangays in the Road Influence Area (RIA), namely, Barangays Ogbong, Ananong, Mabini, Sta. Rosa, and Magsaysay.

The groundbreaking ceremony was led by DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Bicol Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa, together with Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua and DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol I-BUILD Unit Head Engineer Teodoro Eleda.

During the ceremony, Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua thanked the DA-PRDP for facilitating the approval and implementation of the subproject.

“By making this road concrete, we provide our fellow Viganon, especially the three barangays of Ananong, Mabini and Ogbong, the local farmers an advantage and convenience of passing through the farm-to-market roads, which will lead them to the market towns or any centers of enterprise without facing difficulties that they used to struggle with these unpaved roads,” Governor Cua said.

Director Losa oriented the audience about the DA-PRDP, while also acknowledging the vital role of the Provincial Government, particularly the Provincial Governor, who pushed for the budget allocation of the 10% fund counterpart to the I-BUILD subproject.

Director Losa also enjoined barangay captains and their constituents to do their part in strictly monitoring the overall project implementation.

“Hindi lang po ito responsibilidad ng kontraktor, responsibilidad din ito ng mga residente na maki-cooperate sa kontraktor. With your cooperation, nandito ang mga magigiting na barangay captain, tulungan po natin na matapos itong proyekto na maganda at sa tamang oras,” Director Losa expressed.

Likewise, the barangay captains of three adjoining barangays that will benefit from the FMR expressed their gratitude and high hopes once the project is completed.

Data from the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) shows that as of 2019, the province of Viga is the third abaca-producing municipality in Bicol, with 1,889 farmers cultivating 5,156.17 hectares.

With the said FMR designed to provide a direct link from farms, directly to markets, it is expected that a total population of 3,093 or 420 farmer households will benefit from the subproject. The FMR is funded under the first tranche of the DA-PRDP’s $450 million dollar-worth Additional Financing from the World Bank.

A pre-construction conference for the FMR was conducted from January 19-20, 2022.

Also present during the groundbreaking ceremony include Municipal Assessor Engineer Ceferino Berces Jr. representing Viga Mayor Emeterio Tarin, Vice Mayor Cesar Cervantes, Municipal Agriculturist Gerardo Tumala, Provincial Project Management Implementation Office headed by Engineer Elsie Reyes, and Provincial Administrator Lemuel Surtida. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

DA PRDP RPCO V Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa, I-BUILD Head Engr. Teodoro Eleda and Governor Joseph Cua lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the P180.04 million-worth Concreting of Junction Ogbong to Mabini Farm to Market Road in Viga, Catanduanes on January 12, 2022.

DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa oriented the audience about the DA-PRDP, while also recognizing the vital role of the Provincial Government in the approval of the FMR.

DA PRDP RPCO V Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa, I-BUILD Head Engr. Teodoro Eleda and Governor Joseph Cua lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the 5.50-kilometer Concreting of Junction Ogbong to Mabini Farm to Market Road in Viga, Catanduanes on January 12, 2022.