WB funds farm-to-market road project

MANILA, Philippines - Construction of three farm-to-market road (FMR) projects worth P36.7 million funded under the World bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) are now underway in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced over the weekend.

The FMR network would benefit 1,000 farming households cultivating 2,000 hectares of rice lands.

Amalia Jayag-Datukan, Executive Director of Department of Agriculture-Regional Office 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), said these projects include the concreting of Purok 2-San Martin FMR in Barangay Kudanding, Tayugo-Paladong FMR, and concreting of Bual-Talitay FMR.

Isulan Mayor Diosdado Pallasigue said the concreting of the roads have been prioritized because of the critical role of infrastructure in spurring agricultural growth.

“Since the 1970s, the accessibility of these roads has long been a problem especially during rainy season when the trails are not passable even to motorcycles and tricycles,” he said.

The road projects were visited by representatives of the World Bank on Jan. 27 as part of the team’s review mission for the PRDP.

The PRDP, rolled out beginning the second semester of 2014, is a six-year program implemented by the DA with the World Bank for the creation of an inclusive, value-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.