DAR’s bridge projects to help boost agri sector in Palawan

MANILA: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over almost P60 million worth of bridges that are meant to help the agricultural sector in five municipalities in Palawan.

The five bridges include the Parasao Bridge in Barangay Apoc-apo, Aborlan, which costs P9.43 million; Abucayan Bridge in Barangay Panitian, Sofronio Española costing P12.63 million; Buayan Bridge in Barangay New Cuyo, Roxas costing P11.28 million; Minara Bridge in Barangay Minara, Roxas costing P9.97 million; and the Cagbanaba Bridge in Barangay New Ibajay, El Nido, costing P16.67 million.

These projects are expected to provide farmers with easier access and cheaper transportation costs in delivering their farm products to trade centers and markets in Palawan.

According to DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, his administration would not settle on the distribution of lands since he would also provide various support services to ensure the accomplishment of the department's efforts to improve the quality of living in rural areas.

“First world countries have rich agriculture production and we will pool all our efforts to lift our agricultural sector,” he said. “We will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways to build more infrastructure facilities for the best interest of our agriculture.”

The bridge projects are part of DAR’s Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) program, which seeks to alleviate poverty among agrarian reform beneficiaries and agrarian reform areas while fostering rural development in agrarian reform communities and increasing production and income through lower marketing costs.

Barangay Captain Ferdinand Dacilo expressed his gratitude to the DR for the bridge project as it will help them save time and money in transporting their products to the markets.

Photo from Philippine News Agency

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