MANILA, Philippines – Aabot sa P53.6 milyong halaga ng proyekto para sa mga magsasaka ng Quezon province ang ibingay ng Department of Agrarian Reform.
Bahagi ng mga proyekto ang pagpapagawa ng 5.4 kilometro na Cogorin-Mabanban farm-to-market road na may karugtong na tulay at anim na mga potable water supply system sa Barangay Sto. Nino Ilaya sa bayan ng Lopez.
Nagkakalahalaga ng P40.6 milyon ang nasabing kalsada na nagkokonekta sa MSS agrarian reform community at mga barangay sa loob ng 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," pahayag ni DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry Pacturan.
Sinabi naman ni DAR Regional Project Manager Erlinda Pearl Armada na malaki ang pangangailangan ng Barangay Sto. Nino at Ilaya sa malinis na tubig kaya naman nagpagawa sila ng anim na potable water system na nagkakahalaga ng P513,374.
"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," ani Armada.
Dagdag ni Armada na ginagawa na rin ang irigasyon sa lugar na maaaring magamit ng 46 hektaryang sakahan ng palay.
“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," sabi ng DAR Regional project manager.