The province of Tarlac largely depends on the growth of the agriculture sector for improvement of the local economy, where there are wide production areas of commercials crops. However, the current condition of the some farm-to-market roads limits the augmentation in farmers’ incomes and efficiency.

Ricardo Cayapan, resident and farmer in Barangay Banaoang West, Moncada shares the hardship they encounter in traversing the existing road, particularly in emergency situations.

“Sobrang laking bagay sa amin ng proyektong ito. Dahil bahain ang lugar namin dito, ang laking hirap kapag may dinadala sa ospital. Malaking sakripisyo, pero tiisan nalang talaga.” (This project is really a big deal to us. Because our area is always prone to flood, it’s really hard when we encounter emergencies and we need to rush to the hospital. It’s a big sacrifice, but we have no choice but to keep up with it.)

Cayapan added that the project marks the first concreting venture held in the area in his 40 years of residence in Banaoang West. Currently, traveling takes about 45 minutes to one hour from the farm areas to the markets.

The 14.7-km Improvement of Capaoayan- Banaoang- Ablang Sapang Farm-to-Market Road will augment the income of sweet potato farmers and reduce the cost of hauling. Through reduced travel time from the farms to the markets of the four influence barangays, the sub-project will improve the efficiency of input and produce delivery. With a population of about 58,000, it will benefit more than 13,700 households in Moncada.

The P142M road project will support the I-REAP sub-project dubbed as the Provision of Custom Service and Establishment of Processing Center and Storage Facility for Sweetpotato in the Province of Tarlac. The enterprise will be managed by the Sapang Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which was defined as the ‘home of sweet potato producers’ in Tarlac.

Tarlac Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU) Head Krishna Buenaventura expressed her support with the much-awaited roll-out of implementations in the province.

“This is such as huge and helpful project. With our strong commitment and cooperation, we can mend all our shortcomings.” Buenaventura added, “We are optimistic for the outcome of the PRDP not only here in Tarlac, but throughout the whole country.” (Kayla Arceo, DA-PRDP PSO North Luzon InfoACE Unit)

RUGGED AND CROOKED. The Improvement of Capaoayan- Banaoang- Ablang Sapang Farm-to-Market Road in Moncada, Tarlac will address the municipality’s problem on narrow access roads and slow transportation.