Tabuk City, KALINGA – Amid the difficulties and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, another long-awaited dream was fulfilled as Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar led the inauguration and turnover of the Bado Dangwa-Guilayon Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) last September 30, 2020.
Along with Sec. Dar, the turnover ceremony was also led by Congressman Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang and Governor Ferdinand B. Tubban of Kalinga provincial local government. Key officials from the DA, PRDP cluster and regional offices, PLGU Kalinga, and the members of the local community also joined in the activity.
“Let me congratulate our partners in the construction of this Bado Dangwa to Guilayon FMR – the provincial government, the city of Tabuk and of course the two contractors for the quality work that we inaugurated today,” expressed DA secretary Dar.
The road project has set a record for being the fastest PRDP FMR subproject nationwide to be completed ahead of its target, or five months and 29 days earlier. It has a project cost of P230 million wherein 80 percent came from the PRDP (World Bank loan proceeds) with counterpart funding from the DA (GOP) and the city government of Tabuk.
During the program, Secretary Dar announced that the DA region is investing a total of P674 million in the province of Kalinga this year. This include interventions from the DA regular banner programs, special projects, and attached bureaus.
“The DA is investing a total of P674 million this year and P374 million more under the PRDP next year. With the PRDP funding mechanism, kalinga will get its rightful share from the PRDP,” he added.
As a message of gratitude, Guilayon barangay chair Jonie Malaggan recalled how his fellow residents would dream of having a concrete road to and from their farms.
More than a transport system, the FMR was implemented in support of the livelihood activities of the local populace within the subproject area.
“Gapu ti kape, sinmangpet dagitoy da nga proyekto. Awisen mi dakayo nga ipapati tayu ti agmula ti kape ta dakdakel ti maala tau nga ganansya nu kape ti imula tayo,” said Congressman Mangaoang.
He further expressed his gratefulness to the DA and the PLGU, especially to the technical staff of the PPMIU and the PRDP for the successful implementation of the FMR subproject.** Elvy S. Taquio (DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR InfoACE Unit
