BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Agusan del Sur has turned over a P27 million worth of uni-steel bridges in Barangay Salvacion and Saguma, all in Bayugan City on August 24, 2021.
The Bingay and Saguma Bridge are two of the four bridges in Agusan del Sur built under the “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo” (TPKP) Program formerly called the President’s Bridge Program, which is a zero-based budgeting approach by the government, funded by France, monitored by DAR and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office- Bridge Management Cluster.
DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said that the construction of the bridges is a vital component of rural development that will link the agrarian communities to the economic mainstreams, especially in the market centers in Agusan del Sur.
“Farmers, being the true heroes especially at this time of pandemic deserve to be given this kind of support services that will provide them easy means to transport their produce,” said Castriciones.
PARPO II Jamil P. Amatonding, Jr. said that the project would benefit some 2,731 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), especially in the marketing of their farm products, as well as to at least 12,000 residents.He added that the completion of the bridges is a manifestation of how aggressive President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in pushing the implementation of the TPKP project after it was halted sometime in 2011.
“Our present administration has a high regard in giving importance to our farmers as they represent a vital element of societal transformation that will lead to economic stability,” said Amatonding.
Also present during the ceremony were DAR Caraga Regional Director Leomides R. Villareal, ARDO Agnes Dela Cerna, Provincial Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr., 1st District Representative Alfelito M. Bascug, Bayugan City Mayor Kirk A. Asis, City Councilors and Barangay Officials of Salvacion and Saguma, respectively. (Rechel D. Besonia, DAR-Agusan del Sur/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)
