Whether it’s a myth or not, some would say number 13 connotes bad luck but here in Caraga Region, 13 is a figure of accomplishment.
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.Municipal
Agriculturist Agapito Taguba and Brgy. Kagawad Maxuel
Jusain, inspected DA’s FMR project traversing Brgy. Himamaug of Taganaan, Surigao del Norte |
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 13 accomplished 13 concrete
farm to market roads (FMR) regionwide with a length close to 13 kilometers and
with a total project cost including LGU counterpart of more than P194 M.
The implementations
of said projects were based on the proposals emanating from the respective LGU
recipients and compliance of the required documents.
Of the 13
FMR completed projects, three were implemented in Surigao del Norte
particularly in the municipalities of Gigaquit, Taganaan and San Francisco;
three in Agusan del Sur in the municipalities of San Francisco, Trento and in
Bayugan City; seven in Agusan del Norte particularly in Magallanes, Buenavista,
Santiago, Jabonga, Nasipit and Butuan City.
Three of the
said FMR were implemented through the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) and the rest were implemented under the respective LGU.
Completion
of the projects were respectively funded through the Farm to Market Road
Development Program (FMRDP), Caraga Integrated Development Program (CIDP),
Support to Emergency and Livelihood Assistance Project 2 (SELAP) and the Bottom-Up-Budgeting
now known as Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP).
Maxuel
Jusain, a barangay kagawad of Himanaug, Taganaan, Surigao del Norte said that
the FMR implemented in their barangay stirred-up the economic activity in their
area.
“Kaniadto kining ang imong agi-anan daut kaayo. Way
musulod dinhi nga mga sakyanan aron paghakot sa mga abot sa among mga
mangingisda ug mga mag-uuma, pero karon nga nia na ning FMR hayahay na gyud”
(This is a bumpy area before. No transportation vehicle would come here to
fetch the products from our fisherfolks and farmers until the implementation of
this FMR. It is such a relief.) Kagawad Jusain said.
He also narrated
that prior to the implementation of the FMR, farmers had to carry the burden of
paying high labor cost from P30-P40 per bag to the highway but now transport
vehicle can traverse freely in the farming communities.
Around 400 households mostly farmers and fisher folks are dwelling in the
area and could directly benefit the convenience of the road with an influence
area of 339 hectares.
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An FMR
project funded under DA-SELAP serving the farming
and fishing communities in Brgys. Banbanon and Diaz,
San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.
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Meanwhile
Genaro Jacob , barangay chairman of Banbanon, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte
said that with the completion of the FMR in their area traversing the farming
communities on one side and beach area in the opposite side sees the
opportunity for agri-tourism development.
He added
that the implementation of the said FMR eased the burden of the farmers and
fisherfolks in delivering their produce to the market while giving convenience to
beach goers.
“Mapasalamaton
gyod ko sa DA kay dako kaayo ug kaayuhan nga natampo ang kalsada nga among
nabatunan”(I am so grateful to DA because the FMR that we have now contributed
much for the betterment of our barangay), he concluded.
Overseeing
the implementation of the said infrastructure projects is the Engineering
Division of DA RFO 13 under the leadership of Engr. Rene Morales.
He said that
farm to market road projects of the Department of Agriculture are implemented
to provide access of the farm or aqua products to the market. (Aurell P. Arais /
RAFID DA CARAGA)
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