Around 70 farmers and 400 households of Brgy. Man-uling in Cauayan, Negros Occidental are now benefiting from the ease of travel and transport of products from farms to the market using a newly paved road.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office has completed the concreting of the ₱11.8-million Farm-to-Market Road (FMR), specifically in Sitio Bayabas, where vast areas are mostly planted with crops and agricultural products.
Said road concreting project, in convergence with the Department of Agriculture, involves construction of 970-lineal meter, 5-meter wide Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) road. This also includes provision of slope protection structure, and application of thermoplastic pavement markings and metal railings.
Citing from the report of District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo, DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said the completed FMR project is beneficial not only to the farmers but also to hundreds of residents in the community.
“With this improved road, people from the remote and far-flung areas will have easy access to basic government services such as health and education,” Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said.
“More significantly, the paved road is very beneficial to our agricultural sector wherein farmers can conveniently deliver their products to the market at a lesser hauling cost, making them earn more than they used to,” Director Bueno said.
Likewise, Brgy. Man-uling chief, Ms. Madeline Samillano said they are now less worried especially in times of emergency compared to what they have been experiencing in the past.
“During emergency situations before, it was difficult for us to travel because the road was muddy during rainy season and dusty during dry season, that aggravated our health condition. Now, we can easily reach health facilities in the town in times of emergency, and the aid from the government can also easily reach our place during calamities,” Ms. Samillano said.
This convergence project of DPWH and DA is a vital factor in enhancing agricultural development, and improving the standard of living of the people in the rural areas. DPWH continues to work together with partner agencies and stakeholders in providing quality infrastructure facilities and services that will improve the life of every Filipino. (DPWH-6)
