The Baguio City Council last Jan. 10 passed a resolution supporting the proposal to build a farm-to-market road (FMR) at Barangay Irisan.
The proposed FMR is a project of the city government and the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera. The FMR will link the Baguio-Bauang Road.
The road to be constructed, which will benefit 15 or more farmers, will cover portions along purok 8 and 12.
The resolution will be submitted to the Office of DA Sec. William Dar for his approval. It is an offshoot of Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s request submitted in June 2021 for the agency to help fund the project estimated by the City Engineering Office to cost P17.39 million.
DA Regional Agricultural Engineering Division head Filemon Salvador said the DA-CAR already endorsed to the central office the cost estimate of the project. If approved, allotment will be included in the DA-CAR’s budget for 2023.
In passing the resolution, the city government expressed willingness to assist in the road right of way acquisition, allocation of budget for the perfection of the conveyance of title of the road right of way, planning, construction, inspection, monitoring of the project, and its support in the operation and maintenance of the project after the turnover.
The project site will cover a portion of a titled lot in the name of Elsie Kiwas. The city council passed a separate resolution requesting the heirs of Kiwas to donate the 207 square meters of land to the city government.
The project site also covers a portion of a city lot where the City Social Welfare and Development Office is located.
Apart from the letter request from the mayor and resolution of the city council, another requirement asked by the DA is a 10 percent counterpart from the city government which may be in cash and/or in kind. The city council requested that the valuation of the lot covered by the project will be considered as part of the city’s share in the project cost. – Jordan G. Habbiling
April 24, 2024
