BANAUE, Ifugao – Three road projects worth P510.96 million in Ifugao were officially inaugurated and turned over by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) to the local government of Ifugao on Thursday, Oct. 13.
The subprojects include the 4.96-km Junction-Alimit-Nattum Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) worth P140.52 million in the municipality of Mayoyao, the 4.6-km Viewpoint-San Fernando FMR worth P124.81 million, and the 8-km Anaba-Ducligan-Banao FMR with a 20-m bridge worth P245.63 million – both located in the municipality of Banaue.
The Junction-Alimit-Nattum FMR covers two barangays (Palaad and Alimit) and benefits three more barangays within its influence area (Banao, Nalbu, and Nattum). This one would benefit more than 290 households.
The Viewpoint-San Fernando FMR connects the two barangays and now benefits more than 360 households.
The Anaba-Ducligan-Banao FMR on the other hand traverses barangays Anaba and Ducligan, and likewise serves the residents of barangay Banao and benefiting more than 270 households DA Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey emphasized the role of the LGU in the maintenance of the road projects.
“Now that these FMR projects are turned over to the LGU, the maintenance work and ensuring that these roads are always open and accessible 12 months a year – on dry weather, rainy weather and even on stormy weather are also the LGUs responsibility,” stressed Odsey.
He further commended the dedication and the perseverance of the implementing LGUs from the proposal to the completion of the road projects.
“The basis of approving proposed projects is the performance of the proponent LGU. From the provincial LGU, municipal LGUs and to the barangay LGUs, continue the good job that you are doing, and the DA will always be behind you,” added Odsey.
Ifugao Governor Jerry U. Dalipog expressed his immense gratitude to the DA-PRDP for the realization of the subprojects.
“We in Ifugao are thankful to the DA-PRDP and for everyone’s sacrifices toward the realization of these projects. This is among the best programs of the government for it ensures that projects are completed as planned,” said Dalipog.
Dalipog said aside that from serving as an access road of peoples between the service communities, and, in the delivery of farm inputs and products, these road projects have a secondary purpose. The roads, Dalipog said, help resettle people away from the rice terraces to appropriate settlement areas.
“Residential houses are now congested along the roads and are even built along the rice terraces, and I hope that the opening of these roads will lead to resettlement so that we can also preserve our rice terraces as we expand our production,” said Dalipog.
Farmers and residents along the stretch of these FMRs are now assured of safe travel and transport of their agricultural produce with the completion of the FMR projects.
Under the DA-PRDP, the province of Ifugao has now 16 completed infrastructure subprojects with an aggregate cost of P578.72 million and three under implementation worth P470.95 million in support to the champion commodities of Ifugao.