ILOILO City – A total of 20 farm-to-market roads in the amount of P159.0 million have been constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Iloilo Second District Engineering Office, funded under FY 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA), in convergence with the Department of Agriculture (DA), 18 of which are completed while the remaining two are on-going and nears completion.
According to district engineer Sanny Boy Oropel, these farm-to-market roads are constructed in various towns in the central part of Iloilo province, within the District’s area of jurisdiction.
One of these significant projects is the construction of 1.94-kilometer farm-to-market road, 5.0 meters wide including cross drain with stone masonry headwall, which stretches from Brgy. Suba to Brgy. Linao in Barotac Nuevo, in the amount of P25.0 million
The District has also completed the construction of another road from Brgy. Lay-ahan to Brgy. Sinuagan in Pototan, Iloilo, which involves concreting of 2.20-kilometer road, 5.0 meters wide including cross drain with slope protection, in the amount of P20.0 million.
In addition, the 1.01-kilometer farm-to-market road in Brgy. Banugan in Dueñas, Iloilo and 1.0-kilometer road from Brgy. Baje San Julian to Brgy. Owak in Calinog, Iloilo were completely paved, each amounting to P10.0 million
“These farm-to-market roads will help increase the income of the farmers in the influenced area by decreasing post-harvest losses, as well as promote agricultural enterprise in the area, improving the standard of living of the locales and enhancing the socio-economic condition of these communities,” Oropel said.
“The projects will also provide easy access to basic services and commodities related to agriculture, reduce travel time and transport cost of commodities, and these improved roads will attract more investors in the area,” he added.
Likewise, economic activities on the growth areas serve by the farm to markets roads will be enhanced and improved./PN
