The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) headed by Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo officially turns over the P34 million farm-to-market road (FMR) to Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

The 2.9-kilometer Lumbia-Mabao FMR directly benefits 3,036 individuals or 885 farming households. This intervention from the government is built to support the Rubber industry in the province and the farmers planting high value crops in the locality.

“All of us have worked so hard for the realization of this project. We will make sure that this road will be preserved up to 100 years so that many generations can benefit,” said Mayor Leonida Manpatilan.

Director Monteagudo shared that the government is working hard to support the farmers with not just road for easy transportation of agricultural produce, but also to equip the farmers and farmers’ associations with the necessary tools and equipment to increase production.Manpatilan said that the LGU is working hard to develop not just the corn industry but also the high value crops that many farmers are also planting. “This road creates a good reason and zeal to produce more,” said Manpatilan.

Sitios Lumbia and Mabao are the areas in Barangay Dakutan where some farmers also plant Rubber trees other than just growing corn. “The seemingly isolated area before is now a place of production with many farmers planting corn, high value crops and Rubber trees,” said Barangay Captain Rolando Jaum.

The turn-over activity was participated by the DA-PRDP team in the region, Provincial Project Management Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Agusan del Sur headed by Deanna Fudalan, LGU-Esperanza officials headed by Mayor Leonida Manpatilan, Barangay Dakutan officials and the farmers in the area.

DA-PRDP’s Infrastructure Component helps the producers, traders and the rural population through constructing FMRs, bridges, irrigation and potable water systems that are identified in the value chains of the products or commodities of the province or region. (Fretcher Magatao, RPCO-13)

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Aerial shot of the 2.9 km Lumbia-Mabao Farm-to-Market (FMR) with its surrounding influence area planted with various agricultural commodities in Barangay Dakutan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.