ROAD TO PROGRESS. The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Caraga Region announces the completion of the PHP29.5-million farm-to-market-road (FMR) in Surigao del Sur. This project will benefit the rice farmers in barangays Tigabong and Magasang in Cantilan town. (Photo courtesy of DPWH-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – Amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Caraga Region (DPWH-13) said it has achieved "significant accomplishments" in major infrastructure projects in the area.
Data sent by DPWH-13 showed the completion of several multi-million projects by the agency's district offices around the region.
In Agusan del Sur, the DPWH's First District Engineering Office reported the completion of the two major infrastructure projects in the province worth PHP68.5 million.
The projects include the farm-to-market road (FMR) in the town of Sibagat and the slope protection along the banks of Esperanza Bridge in Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur.
“The completed FMR will promote economic sustainability among the rice and coconut farmers in the area while the slope protection will lessen the damage to agriculture due to monsoon rains,” DPWH-13 director Pol delos Santos said in an interview.
Delos Santos said the completed FMR is an all-weather road "that will ease the burden in the handling of farm products and lessen its transportation cost to the market centers."
DPWH-13 also reported the 90-percent completion of the PHP19.5 million rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged Agusan-Bukidnon Road, particularly in Barangay Calayagon, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
“This project was started on February 20, 2020, and its target completion is on August 24, 2020 under the Calendar Year-2020 DPWH Regular Infrastructure Program of Agusan del Norte District Engineering Office,” delos Santos said.
The portion of the highway was badly damaged during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Seniang in 2015 and its completion is highly anticipated by the residents in the area, he added.
Another FMR worth PHP29.5 million was also completed last month in Surigao del Sur, delos Santos said, adding the 2.2-kilometer FMR that traverses vast rice fields will serve the rice farmers of barangays Tigabong and Magasang in Cantilan town.
Delos Santos also reported the completion of the 240.80 linear meters, two-lane Wawa parallel bridge in Wawa, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.
The parallel bridge is a vital infrastructure along the Agusan-Davao National Highway where transportation of commercial goods regularly passed, he said.
The PHP399.819-million project was completed last month with 750 meters of concrete road approaches that will provide alternate routes to the existing 50-year-old Wawa steel bridge.
“The completion of this project will accelerate the mobility and efficiency in the delivery of basic services in the region as both bridges, the old and the new one, will now be accessed in one-way traffic,” delos Santos said. (PNA)
