Ramon Mayor bares significance of Oscariz-Nagbacalan FMR
Oscariz-Nagbacalan farm-to-market road (FMR), which amounts to 127 million pesos will not only benefit Ramon, Isabela, the Tilapia Capital of the Philippines and the home of the mighty Magat Dam but it will also serve as an access road to the agricultural activities of the neighboring municipalities of San Mateo and Alicia, Mayor Jesus D. Laddaran explained earlier today during the interview conducted by the Regional Project Coordination Office 2 (RPCO 2) InfoACE Unit.
“Agricultural products and inputs will be easier to transport upon completion of the FMR. Further, from Bantug, Alicia, and from San Marcos, San Mateo, travel time will already be shortened using this road towards Santiago City and to Manila and and other trading posts,” Mayor Laddaran said.
The FMR will also hasten agricultural activities in barangays Purok Ni Bulan and Villa Fuerte where fishponds are located. Moreover, vast rice fields are also within the road influence area (RIA) of the FMR.
The Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Ramon, Isabela, which provided its own counterpart in the funding of the subproject held its first I-BUILD Coordination Meeting on June 20, 2019, for the implementation of its Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP)-funded FMR.
Also, staff from the Project Support Office (PSO) and RPCO 2 discussed Geomapping and Governance, Finance, Econ, Procurement, Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) and I-BUILD processes during the pre-construction conference held on June 11, 2019; topics needed by the procuring entity and the contractor prior to the rehabilitation of the 6.8 kilometer-road which directly supports tilapia, Ramon’s prime commodity.
“We will have the ground breaking ceremonies on July 16, 2019. We have other proposals, some have already been reviewed by the Regional Project Advisory Board,” Laddaran said.
“We are grateful to PRDP for this opportunity which will significantly change the lives of the rural folks.”
Ramon is first municipality in Isabela to partner with PRDP. (Dr. Ferdinand N. Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE)
