DA clears P2-B farm-to-road, bridge projects
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved more than P2.06 billion worth of farm-to-market road and bridge projects nationwide to improve market access for agricultural products and lower transport costs.
Projects approved by the agency will cover over 66 kilometers (km) of roads and 310 linear meters of bridges in Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Samar, Bukidnon and North Cotabato.
The latest infrastructure push comes “as the government ramps up efforts to strengthen the country’s agri-food supply chain, where inadequate rural infrastructure continues to drive up transport costs, contribute to postharvest losses and weaken farmers’ competitiveness,” the DA said in a statement on Monday.
Multiyear initiative
The DA said the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Scale-Up would finance these projects.
Supported by $600 million in funding from the World Bank, this multiyear initiative aims to improve the market access of farmers and fisherfolk and increase income from selected agri-fishery value chains.
The program has five components: National and Local Level Planning; Rural Infrastructure and Market Linkage; Enterprise Development; Project Implementation Support Component; and Contingent Emergency Response Component.
Irrigation
The DA is targeting to award all remaining PRDP projects before the year ends. The program also includes irrigation systems and postharvest facilities.
“These projects are very crucial to our agri-food systems,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, highlighting that the package features long farm-to-market roads, with the longest extending up to 26 km.
Tiu Laurel said bridge projects would be the most transformative component of the program. These involve replacing river crossings that usually become impassable or dangerous during unfavorable weather conditions.
“I’m sure these projects will improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, lower their expenses and give them better access to markets,” the agriculture chief added.
Tiu Laurel said the PRDP Scale-Up was among the government’s most demanding foreign-assisted programs, citing the World Bank’s stringent standards.
Nonetheless, President Marcos has ordered agencies to accelerate the development of these projects to help the farm sector, particularly those in rural areas.
