The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over P59.98 million worth of bridges in five municipalities in Palawan in a bid to boost the agricultural sector in the province.
Officials of the DAR and local governments signed the certificates and acceptance of the infrastructure facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
According to the department, the turned-over bridges include the Parasao bridge in Barangay Apoc-apo, in the town of Aborlan, which costs P9.43M; Abucayan bridge in Barangay Panitian, Sofronio Española, P12.63M; Buayan bridge in Barangay New Cuyo, Roxas, P11.28M; Minara Bridge in Barangay Minara, Roxas, P9.97M; and the Cagbanaba bridge in Barangay New Ibajay, El Nido, P16.67M.
The DAR expects that farmers will benefit from easier access and lower transportation costs to various trade centers and markets as a result of the infrastructure projects.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said his administration would not settle on land distribution because he would also provide various support services to ensure the success of the department's endeavor to improve the quality of life in the countryside.
“First world countries have rich agriculture production and we will pool all our efforts to lift our agricultural sector," he said in a statement.
As such, Estrella said he would bring the government closer to the farmers to see and listen to their needs to improve their economic lives.
“We will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways to build more infrastructure facilities for the best interest of our agriculture,” he said.
The bridge projects were carried out under the agency's “Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP)”, which aims to promote rural development in agrarian reform communities, increase productivity and income through lower marketing costs, and alleviate poverty among ARBs and agrarian reform areas.