Farm-to-market road projects in Aklan to facilitate easier transportation of agri products

MANILA: The Department of Agrarian Reform's (DAR) farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Aklan, which it is collaborating on with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the provincial government, will soon benefit at least 20,000 farmers in the province.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III stated on Tuesday that at least 1,924 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 19,123 non-ARBs “will soon experience the ease of transporting their products to the market.”

The completion of the projects, according to Eliserio Aguelo, an ARB from Barangay Naile in Ibajay town, will significantly benefit them in transporting their agricultural products to the market and in selling them to the public at a more affordable price.

“Hindi na kailangang maglakbay ang mga magsasaka at residente sa maputik at madulas na kalsada para lamang makapunta sa kabayanan. Sa wakas, natupad din ang aming pangarap. Salamat sa DAR (Farmers and residents no longer have to travel on muddy and slippery roads just to get to town. Finally, our dream came true. Thanks to DAR),” Aguelo stated.

The FMRs, according to DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso, will help the farmers in limiting transportation costs and reducing the amount of time it takes for their goods to arrive at markets, preserving their freshness. The project would also speed up the delivery of various government assistance services to farmers.

Enciso said that the total cost for the concreting of five FMRs in the province is P50 million. This includes the P10-million concrete work in Barangay Naile, the P20-million concrete work on Tagaroroc FMR in Barangay Tagaroroc, Nabas, the P5-million concrete work on Sta. Cruz-Biga-a road in Barangays Sta. Cruz and Biga-a in Lezo town, the P10-million concrete work on Aliputos road in Numancia town, and the P5-million concrete work on the FMR in Barangay Dangcalan, Malinao town.

Estrella said that the construction of the FMRs was in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to provide farmers with the essential support services in order to revive the country's agriculture industry by improving the flow of food supplies.

Photo from Department of Public Works and Highways

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