A P310.9-million farm-to-market road (FMR) is set to improve access to farming communities in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, following the groundbreaking of the Pangawan-Banao Farm-to-Market Road on September 24.
The 10.86-kilometer project is being implemented through the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up program, with financing support from the World Bank.
The project is funded through a P248.7-million World Bank loan, P31.1 million from the national government, and another P31.1 million in local government equity. The DA-PRDP website lists Omengan Construction and Development Corp. as the project contractor.
At around P28.6 million per kilometer, the road’s estimated cost is higher than the P15-million average previously cited by the DA for a two-lane concrete FMR. Actual costs, however, may vary depending on factors such as terrain and the scope of construction.
Thousands of hectares targeted for farm development
The DA said the project will open better access to a 4,191-hectare agricultural area where high-value vegetables and coffee are produced.
It is expected to directly benefit 1,078 residents in Barangays Pangawan and Banao, including 251 indigenous families and 192 farming families.
The department also expects the improved road network to support increased agricultural activity in the area. Annual traffic is projected to grow by 2%, while tomato-growing areas are expected to expand by 2% each year and coffee-growing areas by 1%.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said improved road access can help farmers bring their products to markets more easily while reducing transportation and production costs.
“Road projects are crucial in giving our farmers direct market access, reducing production and transport costs, and ensuring food security,” Laurel said.
He added that connecting remote farming areas to commercial hubs could also help ease food costs for consumers and support rural development.
Farm-to-market road spending faces scrutiny
The project is being launched amid continued scrutiny of government spending on farm-to-market roads, particularly over concerns about how funds are allocated and used.
In January, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned that individuals who attempt to misuse or steal FMR funds should be held accountable and could be called to Senate hearings. He also said safeguards had been put in place to help prevent corruption in the implementation of these projects.
Separately, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) reported that 537 FMR projects had been completed since the start of the Marcos administration in 2022.
The completed roads cover 435.807 kilometers and have benefited 155,123 agrarian reform beneficiaries, according to the DAR.
