P311-M farm-to-market road breaks ground in Nueva Vizcaya

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has broken ground on a P310.9-million farm-to-market road in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, with the 10.86-kilometer project costing about P28.6 million per kilometer.

The Pangawan-Banao Farm-to-Market Road (FMR), launched on September 24, is funded through the World Bank-backed DA Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up program.

The project is jointly financed by a P248.7-million World Bank loan, P31.1 million from the national government and P31.1 million in local government equity.

The DA-PDRP website says it awarded the contract to Omengan Construction and Development Corp.

The project's per-kilometer cost is nearly twice the P15-million average that the DA has cited for a two-lane concrete FMR, although road costs can vary depending on terrain and the scope of construction.

“Road projects are crucial in giving our farmers direct market access, reducing production and transport costs, and ensuring food security,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

“By bridging remote farmlands to commercial hubs, we lower consumer food prices, curb everyday expenses, and power sustainable rural development nationwide,” he added.

The planned road is expected to open up a 4,191-hectare agricultural zone specialising in high-value vegetables and coffee, directly benefiting 1,078 residents, including 251 indigenous families and 192 farming families, across Barangays Pangawan and Banao, the DA said.

The project is also expected to increase annual traffic by 2% while expanding tomato and coffee farming areas by 2% and 1% per year, respectively, the department said.

The project's launch comes amid heightened scrutiny of government spending on FMRs.

In January, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned that those who attempt to steal or misuse FMR funds would be held accountable and could be summoned to Senate hearings. He said safeguards had been put in place to prevent corruption in the implementation of FMR projects.

Separately, the Department of Agrarian Reform earlier said 537 FMR projects had been completed since the start of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration in 2022.

The projects cover a total distance of 435.807 kilometers and benefit 155,123 agrarian reform beneficiaries, the DAR said.— MCG, GMA News