DA focuses on road works, rehab of irrigation systems

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture-7 prioritizes the implementing of infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads this year as ordered by DA Secretary Arthur Yap for all regional offices to focus on.

According to Jane Albarracin, officer-in-charge of the department’s Planning Division, development of roads is carried out in order to help boost agricultural activities especially in the countryside.

Road networking helps the farmers save in costs of their daily operations from cultivation, transport, and sale of their goods because improved farm-to-market roads help facilitate the delivery at a cheaper cost.

Albarracin said that officials of local government units are the ones that send proposals to their office for feasible studies on their areas. After which, they conduct a study and if the proposal sees approval, they recommend such to the national office for funding.

She also said that it does not take a long time to inspect an area as long as it is strategic and one that leads to the market center.

Further, Albarracin said that they are closely eyeing the rehabilitation of irrigation systems through the efforts of the National Irrigation Administration.

NIA is a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for the development and operation of irrigation systems all over the country.

Through NIA, Albarracin said that they are looking forward for the rehabilitation of irrigation systems in the four provinces of Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, Albarracin said that even if only 40 percent of the supply is produced locally, there is no truth to reports of scarcity in the supply of rice in the region.

Despite the fact that 60 percent of the supply in Central Visayas is bought from other regions, there is sufficient supply still and that even the prices are on the right track, she said. — AJ dela Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)