By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) here reported on Thursday that a P21.1 million worth of Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) was recently completed in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
Emmylou T. Presilda, regional spokesperson of DA 13 said the completed FMR will benefit 355 households or 1,408 direct beneficiaries in Trento town.
The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) headed by Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo turned over the P21.1 Million 2.7 km completed construction of Sitio Gasa to Algon Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) to the Municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur.
(DAR-CARAGA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Officials of the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) turned over the completed construction of 2.7 kilometer Sitio Gasa to Algon FMR to the officials of Trento town.
Farmers and resident said the concrete road does not only support the rubber and palm oil industries in the municipality but will also boost the production of other high-value crops like mangosteen, banana, and cacao, Presilda added.
DA 13 Regional Executive Director (RED) Abel James I. Monteagudo also told The Manila Bulletin on Thursday that the new FMR will benefit a big number of farmers in the area.
The region’s top DA 13 official also cited the hard work of the farmers in utilizing their farm areas.
“Various crops are everywhere and this new FMR will surely bring better production in that part of Northeastern Mindanao region,” Monteagudo added.
The concrete road connects Barangay Poblacion to Sitio Gaza and has paved the way for the opening of the road to Barangay Tudela last January 25, 2019.
DA-PRDP partners with the local government units and private sector to provide key infrastructures and facilities to raise incomes, productivity, and competitiveness of the farmers and farmers’ associations in targeted areas.
“No more hassle. This new FMR will surely change our farming attitudes and encourage us to produce more,” said Razel Altieza, a banana farmer in Barangay Algon, Trento town.
“Farmers before were tired of expanding because of the hassle and big cost in transporting their produce. Now, people can see various commodities in our area. Farmers are inspired to expand and produce more because they can now save a big amount in transporting their commodities to the market,” Altieza said.
Barangay Chairperson Doreen Peñaloga said it was really a struggle to encourage some of the landowners to donate a part of their area for the road.