Yap releases P7M for farm-to-market roads

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap recently released P7 million for the construction of farm-to-market roads in Kalinga and Cagayan in line with the DA’s focus on rural infrastructure to improve the supply chain from producers to consumers.

Yap, along with presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor, distributed the cheques to local officials during his visit and inspection last week of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road Improvement Project which links the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Cagayan Valley to the rest of the north.

The beneficiaries of the P7-million include Barangay Ableg, which received P1.5 million; Battiken Village, P1 million, which are both located in Tabuk, Kalinga; and the Cagayan Valley towns of Sta. Ana for the construction of the San Vicente-Gutan farm-to-market road, P1.5 million; Calayan for the Katarungan and Katayanan farm-to-market road, P1 million; Dungan, P1.3 million; and Anungo, P700,000.

Yap, who is concurrent regional coordinator for the NLAQ, said the farm-to-market roads, along with the completion of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road improvement project, "would help speed up the delivery of farmers’ produce from farms to town markets and urban centers in Luzon."

Likewise, Yap said, the farm-to-market roads would also benefit growers by increasing their income, and consumers through lower prices of agricultural products.