Various farming communities in Southern Leyte are expected to benefit from four agricultural roads that are scheduled for completion in August this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday, June 25.
The ongoing farm-to-market road (FMR) projects are located in Barangay Esperanza, Bontoc Town; Barangays Nati and Bato II in Maasin City; Barangay Nahulid in Libagon; and Barangays Tagup-on and Kagingkingan in the municipality of Anahawan.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the road projects will be a huge boon to the local communities as these will facilitate faster transportation of farm products to market centers and increase agricultural productivity in various barangays of Southern Leyte.
“Aside from farmers, other locals in these communities will benefit from concrete roads easier access to health centers and schools,” Villar added.
The progress rate of the 1.32-kilometer (km) Esperanza FMR is currently at 70 percent. It has a budget of P12.5 million.
The 1-km Nati-Bato II Road, which has an allocation of P10 million, is now at 90 percent complete, while the 1.32-km Nahulid FMR, which has a budget of P12.5 million, is currently 40 percent complete.
Lastly, the P12.5-million road improvement project along the 1.28-lane kilometer local road from Tagup-on to Kagingkingan has a current progress rate of 60 percent.
All of the road projects will have drainages and slope protection provision.
The FMR projects are being implemented under the convergence program with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and are being supervised by the DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineering Office.