SERVICE ROAD PROJECT. An aerial view of the 1.3-kilometer service road implemented by the National Irrigation Administration at Barangay Saysain in Bagac town, Bataan. The PHP11.2-million concrete road project covers a service area of 57.31 hectares, benefiting 40 farmers of Saysain Farmers Irrigators Association (FIA) and 20 families at the ICD-Gawad Kalinga Village. (Photo courtesy of NIA)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Farmers and residents in Barangay Saysain in Bagac town, Bataan are now enjoying the benefits of a newly-completed 1.3-kilometer service road project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
With a total project cost of PHP11.2 million, the concrete road covers a service area of 57.31 hectares, benefiting 40 farmers of Saysain Farmers Irrigators Association (FIA) and 20 families of the ICD-Gawad Kalinga Village.
Saysain FIA president Evangeline Rozal said that from the muddy and rough path before which heavily burden farmers and residents especially during the wet cropping season, the service road helps them transport goods and crops easier and faster.
“Dati, inaabot ng tatlo hanggang isang linggo bago makarating ang mga ani natin sa ating mga tahanan. Ngayon po ay isang araw lamang, nasa ating mga tahanan na ang ating mga aning palay (Before, it took three days up to one week to reach home our yields . But now, it takes only a day for our harvested palay to reach our homes),” Rozal said in social media post on Friday.
Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Coordinator Jeron Amadore also thanked NIA for the service road that will help improve the way of living of GK villagers.
The project was implemented by the Pampanga-Bataan Irrigation Management Office under NIA Regional Office III headed by Engr. Josephine Salazar.
Rozal assured NIA that they will do their part in maintaining the road.
“Majority of the community’s basic needs pass through this service road and this has to be maintained well,” she said.
The service road was formally inaugurated last Wednesday led by NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya.
“The opening of this road creates an enabling condition for livelihood and agricultural development in the area,” Visaya said in a statement. (PNA)
