BANAUE, IFUGAO –“Nu maid di kalsada, maid a punsayaatan di buble” (no road means no development in the community) was how San Fernando barangay chairman Peter Cayong described the improvement that the proposed Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) would benefit the local populace and bring about progress in the community.

The consultation gathered the project affected persons (PAPs) of the proposed opening and concreting of a 4.88-kilometer road from barangay Viewpoint to San Fernando for Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) funding. During the consultation, the affected beneficiaries confirmed that a series of consultation were conducted with regard to the subproject and their rights to compensation for properties/ trees that may be affected. The beneficiaries claimed that the road opening will be a big part of the betterment of their lives.

Meanwhile, Cayong explained that a barangay ordinance on forest protection is being observed since 2002 and once the proposed project will be approved and implemented, the barangay council intends to enhance the ordinance and increase the penalty for offenders.

As part of the PRDP’s implementation process, social and environmental aspects of proposed subprojects are safeguarded to strengthen awareness among the beneficiaries and the security of the environment as well.### (Elvy S. Taquio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE)