DAR turns over P53.6M worth projects to Quezon farmers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform on Thursday said it has turned over P53.6 million worth of infrastructure projects to farmers in Quezon province.

DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry Pacturan said the projects include the construction of a 5.4-kilometer Cogorin-Mabanban farm-to-market road and a bridge and the purchase of six units of potable water supply systems in Barangay Sto. Nino Ilaya in Lopez town.

Pacturan said the P40.6-million Cogorin-Mabanban road now connects the MSS agrarian reform community to the adjoining barangays of Lopez.

"This road with bridge will pave the way for the provision of other basic services like health, technology, transportation and education assistance to the rural communities along the farm-to-market road," he added.

The six potable water systems worth P513,374.00 were extended to 150 households in barangays Sto. Nino and Ilaya.

DAR Regional Project Manager Erlinda Pearl Armada said that the residents lack potable drinking water.

"The water that they get from their wells is not safe for drinking. During the summer these wells [dry up]. They have to go to the lowlands to buy drinking water which adds up to their daily expenses," said Armada.

A pump irrigation project worth P12.5 million is also being built, she added.

Armada said that the pump irrigation project can irrigate around 46 hectares of rice land.

“This irrigation system will greatly help farmers double their income as they can maximize rice production to three cropping seasons, unlike before when they relied heavily on rainwater," she said.

DAR jointly sponsored the infrastructure projects with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.