A concrete path to development is on the way for the rural areas of Mulanay, Quezon, as a 15.33 km farm-to-market road funded under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up begins construction this year. The project will run through barangays Bagupaye, Cambuga, Mabini, and San Pedro and will benefit 9,140 individuals.

The farm-to-market road, costing Php 495,574,558.29, is expected to reduce travel time from 2.8 hours to 19 minutes and transport losses from 2.3% to 1.2% in the covered communities. It shall also make travel faster and easier in nearby municipalities like San Francisco and San Narciso as both ends of the FMR will connect two distant parts of the Mulanay-San Francisco national road. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2027.

“Nakakatiyak kami na ang suportang ibinigay ng komunidad sa proyektong ito ay magbubunga nang malaki dahil sa mga kaakibat na benepisyo ng kalsadang ito sa mga magsasaka. Ngayong madali nang pasukin ng buyers ang komunidad at mas mabilis at maginhawa na ang transportasyon tungo sa mga pamilihan, mas mapapasigla ang produksyon ng pagkain. Kaya naman, patuloy na susuporta ang DA at ang pamahalaang bayan ng LGU sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda upang maipagpatuloy at mapalago ang kanilang kabuhayan,” shared DA Regional Field Office IV – CALABARZON and PRDP Project Support Office South Luzon Director Fidel Libao in the project’s groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Mulanay Mayor Aristotle Aguirre and Vice Mayor Jay Castilleja. #

As access improves in the target communities through the farm-to-market road, DA-4A Regional Executive Director Fidel Libao committed to reach more rural communities in Catanauan to further improve their livelihood and encourage food production in the region. (Photo by Von Samuel Panghulan)

Aware of the long-term benefits to be brought by the farm-to-market road, not just on agriculture, but also in their overall way of living, residents have expressed their support for the subproject right from the start of its development. (Photo by Von Samuel Panghulan)

To celebrate the partnership of the DA and the local government of Mulanay on the subproject, DA-4A Regional Executive Director Fidel Libao, Mulanay Mayor Aristotle Aguirre, and fellow LGU representatives took part in installing the subproject’s historical marker. (Photo by Von Samuel Panghulan)

During the rainy season, Brgy. San Pedro, one of the target areas of the farm-to-market road, becomes a challenging path to pass through for residents as it gets extremely muddy and unsafe whether for people traveling on foot or by vehicle. (Photo by Carlo Dorado)