By Betheena Kae Unite
Eighteen farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in Central Iloilo have recently been completed while two more agricultural roads are nearing completion, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced today.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
District Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel said the 20 FMRs are funded P159 million from the 2018 General Appropriations Act.
Constructed in different towns in the central part of Iloilo, the 18 completed road projects are located in the municipalities of Calinog, Pototan, Janiuay, Duenas, Bingawan, Mina, Cabatuan, Maasin, Anilao, San Enrique, Banate, and Dumangas.
All constructed roads are 13.1-kilometer long, allowing faster transport of agricultural products to the markets.
“These farm-to-market roads will help increase the income of the farmers in the influenced area by decreasing post-harvest losses, as well as promote agricultural enterprise in the area, improving the standard of living of the locales and enhancing the socio-economic condition of these communities,” Oropel said.
Among the major projects completed are the 2.2-kilometer road from Barangay Lay-ahan to Sinuagan in Pototan costing 19.1 million; and the one-kilometer road each in Barangay Banugan in Dueñas town and Barangay Baje San Julian to Barangay Owak in Calinog both costing P9.4 million.
The DPWH, Oropel said, also implemented the concreting of roads from Barangay Ulayan to Bacuyo and from Barangay Ipil to Barangay Lonoy, both in Calinog costing P4.7 million and P9.5 million, respectively.
Other road projects include the Barangay Pispis to Layog Road costing P6.9 million; Barangay Tubang to Nagba to Bolo in Maasin town costing P2.8 million; Barangay Alabidhan, Bingawan; Barangay Purog to Guinacas, Pototan; Barangay San Antonio, San Enrique; Barangay Caloogan to Igang, Pototan and Barangay Cabalabaguan, Mina, Barangay Damires to Tamuan, Janiuay costing P4.7 million each; Barangay Sulanga, Cabatuan costing P6.6 million; Barangay Serallo, Anilao and Barangay Merced to Carmelo, Banate costing P4.9 million each; Barangay Tamboilan to Bolilao, Dumagas costing P7 million; Barangay Baje San Julian to Owak, Calinog costing P9.4 million; and Barangay Lay-ahan to Sinuagan Road in Pototan town costing P19.1 million.
The two projects that are yet to be completed are the P23.6-million road project in Barangay Tabuc Suba to Linao Road in Barotac Nuevo and the P4.8-million road project in Barangay Quipot Road in the municipality of Janiuay.
“The projects will also provide easy access to basic services and commodities related to agriculture, reduce travel time and transport cost of commodities, and these improved roads will attract more investors in the area,” Oropel said.