The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Roxas, Palawan and the PRDP MIMAROPA led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the P132.7 million-worth farm-to-market road (FMR) subproject on November 8.

The 11.71-kilometer FMR with bridge will traverse the barangays of Nicanor Zabala, San Miguel, and Jolo. This infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject will benefit at least 845 families and cashew growers.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Roxas Mayor Maria Angela Sabando said that their FMR has the biggest PRDP fund allocation among other subprojects in the Province of Palawan. According to her, that is the reason why she and the LGU’s technical working group did not give up with the Project’s requirements. “Kaya kailangan talaga nito ng tiyaga, sikap, pasensya, at pagtutulungan, dahil may giginhawang community dito ([With the biggest fund allocation] we really need perseverance, patience, and cooperation for this because it will help ease lives in this community),” she emphasized.

The FMR is projected to reduce travel time from the farthest point of the road network to the national highway by up to 67 percent and reduce hauling cost by up to 50 percent. It will also help lessen production losses because of the improved transportation.

Mayor Sabando encouraged the officials of the three barangays that will directly benefit from the FMR to actively participate in monitoring the subproject implementation.

“Huwag tayong magalit sa gobyerno dahil kahit mahaba man ang proseso, nandiyan pa rin ang proyekto (We should not hate the government, because even if the process is tedious, the project is still there),” Brgy. Nicanor Zabala Chairperson Marvin Montilla said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The groundbreaking was held in a three-part ceremony for the three barangays. The PRDP staff of the South Luzon Project Support Office and MIMAROPA Regional Project Coordination Office, Roxas LGU officials and personnel, and the subproject beneficiaries participated in the activity. ### Denice Joelle Benosa (DA-PRDP MIMAROPA-RPCO InfoAce)

Mayor Maria Angela Sabando (3rd from left) of Roxas, Palawan cut the ribbon with Deputy Project Director Alex Ronquilo (2nd from left) of PRDP MIMAROPA, Vice Mayor Alfredo Enojas, Jr. (3rd from left?), and Bgy. Nicanor Zabala Chairperson Marvin Montilla (4th from left) during the PRDP FMR groundbreaking ceremony held on November 8. (Denice Joelle Benosa, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA -RPCO InfoAce)