DPWH completes P2.36-B farm-to-market roads

MANILA, Philippines - A total of P2.36 billion was reportedly spent to complete the construction of 440.14 kilometers of farm-to-market roads nationwide.

In a statement, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the 440.14 kilometers of farm-to-market roads is equivalent to 85 percent of road projects needed for the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 targeted for completion within the year.

At present, only 25 farm-to-market road projects remain under construction, with 12 under pre-construction and 12 others under pre-engineering activities.

The DPWH said the transport of agricultural goods to market would be easier once all farm-to-market roads are completed. 

It would also support the establishment of agribusiness enterprises through links between and among the 175 agrarian reform communities in 54 provinces.

The DPWH constructed 126 farm-to-market road projects to benefit hundreds of agricultural communities nationwide under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 (ARISP-III).

In the Ilocos region, 17 farm-to-market roads totaling 54.46 kilometers were completed at a cost of P296 million. 

It includes the improvement of the 13.5-kilometer Lichauco-Evangelista Road and construction of vented spillway along Evangelista-Panganiban Road in Pangasinan.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, eight projects, a combined 41.83 kilometers of roads were accomplished at a cost of P232 million. 

One of the major farm-to-market roads completed in the CAR is the construction and improvement of the 16-kilometer Bugnay-Buscalan-Butbut Road with bridge and spillway in the municipality of Tinglayan in Kalinga province.

The DPWH also completed 36.63 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in Cagayan Valley in the amount of P137 million. 

A total of 12 farm-to-market roads were constructed, including the improvement of 7.8-kilometer San Antonio-Mapalad-Bautista road with 22 linear meters bridge in Isabela.

In Central Luzon, 19 road projects totaling 49.54 kilometers at a cost of P224 million, were completed. 

It includes the improvement of 6.7-kilometer portion of San Ildefonso (Sitio Mapia) Road in Pampanga.

In Calabarzon and Mimaropa, 34.58 kilometers and 19 kilometers of farm-to-market roads were completed costing P200 million and P138 million. 

The longest farm-to-market roads accomplished in these two regions are the 7.59-kilometer Barangay Jaybanga-Barangay Nagtaluntong Road in Jaybanga and Apar, Lobo, Batangas and improvement of JPR Tiondonan-JPR Mendoza Proper Road in Jofel, Palawan.

Agrarian communities in Bicol now use five farm-to-market roads totaling 17.74 kilometers costing P83 million, including the improvement of 4.76-kilometer Matoog-toog-Pambuhan Road in Pambuhan, Mercedes, Catanduanes.

The DPWH also completed constructing a total of 17 farm-to-market roads in Western Visayas with combined road length of 59.32 kilometers; five in Central Visayas with 19.12 kilometers; and three road projects in Eastern Visayas totaling 5.9 kilometers with total cost of P497 million.

It also completed 49.27 kilometers of farm-to-market roads from 11 projects in Northern Mindanao amounting to P243 million. In Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga regions, the DPWH completed seven projects with a span of 21.46 kilometers, two projects of 5.89 kilometers; and eight projects of 25.36 kilometers.