The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project officially handed the 7.94 kilometers farm to market road to the municipality of Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur last last July 7, 2021.

For many years, people in this municipality have been dreaming of traversing a well paved road when travelling from their farm to the market.

The “Concreting of Biswangan-Gasa FMR” amounting to P84.3 million now benefits the 496 households within its road influence area, half of which belong to the Subanen tribe. It’s main objective is to reduce the transport cost of agricultural and livestock products by 50% after completion of the subproject, decrease transportation fees, shorten travel time, provide safer transport of passengers by 50%, and increase income of households in the project area of at least 25%.

Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor J. YU led the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of the marker with Regional Project Coordination Office I-BUILD Component head Juanito C. Taripe, Jr.

In his message, Governor Yu said that they have already observed a reduction of travel time since the road construction was completed.

“From the usual one hour travel time before, it now only takes 10 minutes to traverse the entire stretch of 7.94 km road,” said Uy.

He was also positive that after three (3) years there will be more progress and development in the recipient barangays as well as in the Municipality of Lakewood. Governor Uy believed that this road subproject will open more opportunities and farmers will be more motivated to plant and produce more for them to achieve increased income.

According to Biswangan Barangay Captain Virgelio Barbon, Sr., there is an increase in the number of settlers in their barangay with the increase in accessibility brought about by the road. Most of them have already started to cultivate their idle lands.

Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit Head Antonio Laurenciana said that they will continue to monitor the FMR even after its completion in order to assess its impact to the beneficiaries based on the success indicator indicated in the feasibility study for the project.  (Joy Montecalvo| PSO Min, with reports from Remai Alejado| PRCO 9)