Farmers and residents in Besao, Mountain Province are now assured of better access with the completion of a new and improved farm-to-market road inaugurated and turned over on July 29.
The 8.938-kilometer FMR, worth P98.54 million, is the first segment of the improvement of Besao-Nacawang (segment 1) and Tadian-Mabalite (segment 2) FMR subproject implemented under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the provincial local government of Mountain Province.
It is now serving 18,357 individuals from the different barangays of Besao and Tadian, including Quirino in Ilocos Sur.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough for the completion of this project. If I am not mistaken, 90 percent of the residents’ basic needs pass through this road and improving it also means a 90 percent contribution to the improvement of their lives,” said Liga ng mga Barangay President Corsio Ganima during the turnover ceremony as he thanked those who contributed to the improvement and completion of the subproject.
Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. thanked the DA for the countless interventions given to Mountain Province, including the completed and ongoing PRDP infrastructure and enterprise subprojects.
“We have allotted P8M for the maintenance/improvement of this road and we assure you that we will do our part in maintaining this road so that it will always be safe, passable, and make its service areas accessible,” he said.
DA OIC Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said the subproject originally covers the whole stretch of Besao to Mabalite, Tadian, but was separated into two segments due to some constraints.
“It didn’t go as planned, but at least this segment is now complete and construction works for the second segment already started,” he said.
Odsey added the road is a strategic artery that connects Mountain Province to Benguet and Ilocos Sur, and stressed maintaining the road is a shared responsibility, especially of its primary users.
DA-PRDP North Luzon Deputy Project Director Elma S. Mananes also hopes for the improvement of the second segment, the Tadian-Mabalite road, to be completed by next year.
“Congratulations and I hope through this project, we were able to express the government’s care for the farmers and communities here in the Cordillera,” she said. – Elvy T. Estacio
April 20, 2024
