The long wait is over, as the longest Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Region 10 is finally turned over by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) to the local government of Damulog, Bukidnon on April 8, 2021.

The Sinarayan – Pocopoco – Tangkulan FMR is the longest PRDP road project in the region with a length of 13.94 KM, worth Php 188,411,870.61.

Damulog Mayor Melino L. Buro is glad that the newly completed road is situated in the area where it is greatly needed.

“The barangays that will enjoy the benefits of the newly constructed road are actually the barangays that need road access the most because these are farming areas and at the same time, an Indigenous People (IP) area.  With the new road, they will no longer have a hard time transporting their produce. This will also greatly serve our IP brothers and sisters because majority of them earns a living through farming.”

Ribbon cutting ceremony led by DA-PRDP Dir. Carlene Collado. (Photo by RPCO 10)

In his message, Regional Executive Director of DA-10 and Project Director of PRDP 10 Carlene C. Collado, commended the efforts of every stakeholders involved in the completion of the project.

“This is the biggest project in PRDP regionwide. I know that completing this project is very difficult especially that we need to follow the standards of PRDP which is very strict. I am grateful for your hard work to achieve this project that will give a better living for our farmers”

In a testimony by Minerva Joy M. Aloba, Barangay Captain of Tangkulan, having the road feels like hitting the jackpot.

“Having this long road feels like I also won Php 188 million pesos in a lottery because of its impact in our lives such as in our education, our health, and our economy, particularly in farming. We will not worry for our children’s education, we will not worry if there are emergencies, and transporting our produce is much easier now. Before, it will take a day just to transport our produce from barangay Tangkulan down to the center of Damulog, but now, we can even do it twice a day. We are really grateful for this new road”

The newly turned-over FMR will greatly help the 5,931 household beneficiaries which includes farmers of rubber, corn, rice, sugarcane, banana, and cassava.

Also present in the said ceremony is DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP 10 Deputy Project Director Carlota S. Madriaga, Damulog Vice Mayor Alberto G. Salmasan, Barangay officials of benefiting barangays, Staff of LGU Damulog, and PRDP Staff.