DA starts Southern Leyte farm-to-market road

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture is set to implement the P232 million farm-to-market (FMR) road project  in Southern Leyte, the biggest road renovation in the Eastern Visayas region.

Under the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), the 19.4 kilometer FMR sub-project will extend across 11 barangays and benefit approximately 12,000 residents.

DA Region 8 executive director Leo Cañeda said the FMR sub-project in Liloan would be the biggest in the region in terms of fund allocation.

He added the proposed sub-project has now been issued a No Objection Letter from the World Bank, which gives clearance for the local government unit to proceed with the procurement process.

Cañeda noted the covered area has a potential for tourism with its bodies of water and forested areas.

“Another important benefit of the FMR sub-project is the residents’ convenience in travelling from the far-flung barangays to the town proper to sell their products,” he said.

The FMR network plan aims to fill the gap between the required and the developed FMRs in the country, and to construct, restore and rehabilitate rural roads.

FMR sub-projects are targeted to increase production, reduce costs, minimize post-harvest losses, and expand market opportunities for both producers and consumers.