Northern Mindanao boosts its key production area by investing in agricultural infrastructure.
The region has completed over 21 kilometers of farm-to-market roads amounting to P51 million pesos which benefited over 3000 farming households in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental.
While a frontload of other infrastructure will soon be completed including 33 kilometers of FMRs and a potable water system (PWS) amounting to over P58 million.
The projects were undertaken under Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) implemented under the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Better incomes
Farmer beneficiaries have expressed gratitude over the projects implemented by the local government.
“We now look forward to better income as better roads cuts our transportation costs and preserves the quality of our produce which enables us to command premium prices,” said Sanauya Gunti, chairperson of a local cooperative in Salvador, Lanao del Norte.
The fourth class town of Salvador has rehabilitated a total of eight kilometers of road linking its corn and rice producing farms to the market.
While in the town of Linamon, Lanao del norte better road access has increase traffic of local transportation as well as access of traders to farms.
In the province of Bukidnon, the FMRs in the towns of Kibawe, Lantapan and Manolo Fortich had saved about 30 minutes transportation time after the poor road conditions were rehabilitated.
Other regions
Following region in the implementation is Caraga region with P31.08 mllion worth of completed projects covering close to 20 kilometers FMR and one unit PWS. Region 12 has completed 19 kilometers of road with a total investment of P23 million. Region 11 has spent P14 million for its PWS and bridge projects while region 9 and ARMM has spent a total of P7.93 million and P3.2 million respectively all for FMR projects.
MRDP is a long term poverty alleviation program in Mindanao with a loan portfolio amounting to US$83 million from the World Bank plus the funding share from the national and local government units.
