The municipal government of Kabayan, Benguet broke ground for the P106.60 million-worth improvement of Balang-Bocao farm-to-market Road (FMR) with vehicular Bridge at Barangay Eddet on Sept. 5.
The FMR has a length of 2.345 kilometers and the bridge has a length of 72 linear meters. It is the sole access of Barangay Eddet, servicing around 178 hectares of production area planted with white potato, carrots, cauliflower, and tomato, among other vegetables. It is the second FMR subproject in Kabayan under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project.
The laying of the capsule was led by Mayor Florante B. Bantales Jr., DA OIC-Regional Executive Director Jennilyn M. Dawayan, Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-Build) Component Head Gaston B. Cael, together with representatives of Balintugan Construction, of the municipal and barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Eric F. Postino, and residents of Barangay Eddet.
During the program, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Berry Sangao Jr. provided an overview of the subproject and its milestones. He also shared how the local government unit technical working group was able to comply with the requirements and cope with the challenges they encountered in the process of having the subproject approved.
As construction is about to commence, Municipal Agriculturist Geoffrey Binnaliw asked for the understanding of the community since transportation will be limited and they have to go back to the old means of carrying their agricultural products. He urged them to reach out to the barangay or to the municipal government, if there are issues related to the construction.
Expected completion of the project is in October 2024. – Elvy T. Estacio
