DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) has turned over an 18.5-kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) worth P317 million to Guihulngan City.

DA7 OIC-Regional Executive Director (RED) Joel Elumba said the FMR that traverses barangays Hilaitan, Maniak, and Trinidad in Guihulngan aims to uplift the living conditions and improve the livelihood of the people.

“This road motivates farmers to become more productive,” said Elumba.

The FMR will greatly benefit the agriculture sector and the DA is here to support all the needs of the farmers, he added. 

Also identified under the Critical Infrastructure and Investment Protection Security Operation of the Philippine Army, the project completion can also protect and secure the government flagship programs and projects.

The government infrastructure project also addresses the issue used by the communist terrorist group to recruit the local populace in Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas of Guihulngan City.

Both the military and local government officials cited the seriousness of the government in providing peace and development in Central Negros.

Crisologa Sereguiles, 42, rice farmer and a resident of Trinidad, thanked the government for responding to the need of the farmers for market accessibility.

She said that logistics has been a perennial problem, citing the costly mode of transportation with every sack of rice, single motorcycle locally known as habal-habal would asked P150 per delivery.

“We are now inspired and determined to produce more because we will be spending less for logistics and we will be able to save,” Sereguiles said. 

“This is truly a blessing to us farmers with more investors coming in. If there are investors, the farmers will not have a hard time marketing the products,” said Flora Regala, 74, vegetable grower and also a resident of Trinidad. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)