FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD. The ongoing rehabilitation of a 3.7-kilometer farm-to-market road in Talavera, Nueva Ecija is now 50-percent complete and it is expected to be completed by October this year. Almost 13,000 residents are expected to benefit from the project. (Photo by PRDP-Central Luzon)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least four barangays in Talavera, Nueva Ecija with some 12,940 residents will benefit from the ongoing rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road (FMR).
The 3.7-kilometer Poblacion Sur-La Torre- Bantug-Mamandil FMR is a sub-project being implemented under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
Despite the recent unfavorable weather conditions and the continuing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the ongoing FMR project has attained 50-percent physical accomplishment.
Rural Infrastructure Engineer Lester Bacual said in a statement that although there had been scattered rains in the area a few weeks ago, the rehabilitation of the FMR gradually resumed and is expected to be completed in October this year.
He also said that due to quarantine restrictions imposed since March, several on-site activities of ongoing sub-projects were temporarily suspended.
However, on-site and monitoring activities for DA-PRDP sub-projects are now allowed to continue with strict compliance with safety and health guidelines under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
“The construction of the FMR may have its share of challenges but this FMR is a project the farmers will be proud of. Soon, the challenge of a poor road access will be behind them,” he said.
The PHP38-million road rehabilitation project was proposed to address the present poor condition of the existing path which greatly affects the farmers’ income due to crop damage during hauling from farm to packing down to the market.
The project beneficiaries are solely dependent on agriculture with planting of rice, corn and lowland vegetables as primary source of income. Onion is their main produce.
Other than connecting the barangays, the FMR will also benefit the traders, buyers, and sellers of agricultural products in and outside the municipality. (PNA)
