ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- Transport of agricultural products from farms to the market in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental is smoother and faster with the completion of the roughly one-lane kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FMR).

The ₱9.8-million FMR is a convergence project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office and Department of Agriculture (DA), funded under Calendar Year 2020 Bayanihan II or the Recover as One Act.

and fruit bearing trees. Hence, the improvement of this road benefits approximately 600 farmers in the area,” Gustilo said in his report to Delfinado.

Likewise, Delfinado pointed out that this farm to market connectivity effort of DPWH and DA aims to develop and provide better transportation system especially from farms to the town/city center.

“Before, we usually ended up walking to the city center especially during rainy days because public transportation was very difficult due to poor road condition. We also needed to rent and pay higher price for certain truck to haul our products. However, with this concrete road, transportation becomes easier for us, allowing better access to various vehicles to reach even the remote barangays,” Reyes said.

Meanwhile, Delfinado said the completion of this FMR provided a convenient access to the residents and more comfortable and faster delivery of their product without spending much for hauling cost.

“This means that our farmers can easily sell their products to the market, spend less in transportation, thus making them earn more for the needs of their families,” she said. (PIA6/Story and photos from DPWH6-RPAIO)