August 06, 2015

Veteran farmer Mang Toni of Guinayangan, Quezon is used to walking on the rough road of their barangay. Having lived in their province for a long time have never expected that their roads will ever be upgraded.

And so, when he learned about the upcoming concreting of the 18-kilometer (km) Manggagawa-Capuluan Central Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) which will pass through Brgy, Mangagawa where he lives, he could not contain his joy.

On June 19, 2015, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) signaled the commencement of the implementation of the said FMR project worth P118.13 million (M).

The ground-breaking ceremony was led by Project Support Office Luzon B Director Shandy Hubilla and Guinayangan Mayor Cesar Isaac III.

Mayor Isaac expressed his gratitude to the PRDP and emphasized the significance of the infrastructure to be constructed in developing their agro-industrial enterprises particularly their coconut production.

“It will be easier and cheaper for farmers to transport their products to the market, which in turn can help them earn bigger income,” he added.

“Tulong-tulong at tuloy-tuloy lang po tayo hangang matapos ang napaka-gandang project na ito,” said Director Shandy Hubilla.

Guinayangan is one of the top coconut producers in Quezon. Likewise, it produces rice and banana, which can increase productivity and marketability with the completion of the FMR in the municipality.

“Akala ko talaga nung una kong nalaman, di totoo, pero nung nakita kong binubungkal na yung lupa at sabi sa akin, yun na daw yun. E, talagang natuwa ako dahil kahit papaano maabutan ko pa na maging bato yung kalsada namin”, (When I first heard about it, I did not believe, but when I saw that people were digging the land and someone told me that that was it, I was overjoyed. At least I will see our road cemented) said Mang Tonio.

There are five Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) sub-projects in Region IV-A approved for funding under the PRDP, all coming from Quezon worth P391.21 M. Aside from the Manggagawa-Capuluan Central FMR, the Rehabilitation of Purok Baybayin-Ibabang Dupay-Purok Centro Itaas-Ilayang Dupay FMR worth P15.69 in Lucena has been approved for implementation.

Constructing and improving FMRS in the rural areas is part of the PRDP’s goal of developing strategic networks of climate-resilient rural infrastructures and facilities that will support value chain in the project areas.

PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It is implemented through the partnership of the DA, World Bank and Local Government Units. (Radel Llagas, InfoACE)

Geotagged photos of the soon-to-be concreted Mangagawa-Capuluan Central FMR in Guinayangan, Quezon

Geotagged photos of the soon-to-be concreted Mangagawa-Capuluan Central FMR in Guinayangan, Quezon

Geotagged photos of the soon-to-be concreted Mangagawa-Capuluan Central FMR in Guinayangan, Quezon