GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The national government has approved an additional infrastructure grant of PHP51.2 million to Sarangani Province under the World Bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
Sarangani Vice Governor Elmer de Peralta said Wednesday the funds will be utilized for the upgrading or concreting of another vital road network leading to farm areas in the coastal town of Maasim.
De Peralta said the local government, through Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, is set to sign an implementation management agreement with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the project.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board, through the committee on legal matters headed by Board Member Hermie Galzote, passed a resolution during its regular session on Tuesday granting authority to the governor sign the agreement, he said.
Under the project, the vice governor said at least five kilometers of a farm-to-market road connecting Barangays Kanalo and Nomoh in Maasim will be paved at a total cost of P56.9 million.
PRDP, which is implemented by DA, will shoulder 90 percent of the project cost amounting to around P51.2 million while the provincial government will cover the remaining 10 percent or around P5.69 million.
"I've passed by this road a number of times and it's really rough. I'm glad that the problem there will soon be resolved," de Peralta said in a statement.
Galzote said the project will mainly benefit farmers in two villages as it will help bring their products faster to the markets.
"This project has long been the dream of the residents of barangays Kanalo and Nomoh," he said.
Based on records from the Provincial Planning and Development Office, some PHP912.2 million worth of road concreting projects have been implemented in the area under the PRDP's Intensified Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development or I-BUILD component. (PNA)
