MANGALDAN, Pangasinan, Dec 9 (PIA) - - Two new farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in Mangaldan town have been completed to provide local farmers better means to transport their agricultural products to the local market and nearby towns. 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the P14-million FMR located at Barangay Maasin, Mangaldan, Pangasinan has a length of 2.647 lane-kilometers while the P15-million road  along Barangay Lanas to Barangay Salay has a length of 2.419 lane-kilometers. 

Pangasinan Second District Engineer Edita Manuel said the projects are funded under the Department of Agriculture (DA) 2021, to help in the welfare and progress for local farmers and business entrepreneurs.  

“Both FMRs are expected to aid in providing local farmers the ease of access and convenience in reaching the local market when selling and trading their agricultural products,” Manuel said.   

Meanwhile, Mangaldan Mayor Marilyn Lambino said she is grateful  for the continuous support and assistance extended to the  farmers in Mangaldan. 

“This farm to market road project does not only hasten the transport of produce but also alleviates the mobility of the machineries being utilized.  We hope that with the help of the various agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and DPWH, we could build more in the near future,” Lambino said.

Arturo Cendaña, president of the  Maasin-Malabago Irrigators Association, said that with the farm to market road here in their locality, the ten to fifteen-minute travel from the barangay to the town has been reduced to a five-minute drive.  

“That saves us not only on time but resources such as on fuel,” he said. 

Bray Lanas farmer Dionisio Romero said before the road was constructed, their plantation is often flooded when it rains hard. 

“Now, with the newly-constructed farm-to-market road, the rainwater does not go directly to our plantation.  We are sincerely thankful!,” Romero said. (JCR/VHS/PIA Pangasinan)