BANAUE, Ifugao-- Two farm-to-market road (FMR) subprojects in Ifugao implemented under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), are nearing completion, with both registering more than a 95 percent physical accomplishment rate as of January 2022.
The ongoing improvement of Viewpoint - San Fernando FMR in Banaue, which spans 4.6 kilometers and with project cost of PhP124.8 million, is now 95.26% physically complete.
Also nearing completion with 97.6% physical accomplishment rate is the improvement of Junction-Alimit-Nattum FMR in Mayoyao, which spans 4.96 km and has a project cost of PhP140.53M.
Both FMR subprojects were proposed to support the heirloom rice industry in Ifugao by providing easier market access to farmers residing in the top heirloom-rice producing municipalities of the province.
In an interview with Banaue Municipal Engineer Antonio Gayumma, the I-BUILD focal person, he said that the improvement of these roads is seen not only to help farmers in bringing their products to the market but also in the revival of abandoned heirloom rice production areas.
“Many have abandoned their lands due to the poor condition of roads going to their farms and they will surely come back to till their lands with these road improvements,” said Gayumma.
Meanwhile, a Joint Inspectorate Team composed of representatives from the DA-PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) North Luzon, Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR (RPCO-CAR), and the local government unit LGU conducted punch list walkthrough of the subprojects from January 25-28, 2022, to ensure that contract specifications are accomplished.
While they are working on the rectification of punch list, RPCO-CAR Rural Infrastructure Engineer Edwin B. Camhit said that there are still remaining works for the Viewpoint FMR, such as the construction of stone masonry, curb and gutter, and the concreting of the remaining 200 meters PCCP.
For the Junction-Alimit-Nattum FMR, remaining works include the construction of line canal, crib wall, and pavement markings.
“The subproject contractors went through several setbacks due to COVID-19 restrictions and inclement weather conditions especially in the last quarter of 2021,” Camhit said. He added that these challenges have significantly affected the physical progress of the FMR subprojects.
The contractors and the implementing LGUs of both subprojects committed to complete the rectification of the punch lists by the end of February.
Once completed, more than 3,600 beneficiaries can look forward to the improvement of their living conditions through the use of quality FMRs that will provide easy access and lesser travel time.( Elvy T. Estacio/ DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR InfoACE Unit)
