THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has formally turned over on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the completed farm-to-market road and a bridge worth P139 million to the municipal government in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The projects, funded through DA–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), include the construction and upgrading of the 7.95-kilometer Punawan-Sitio Pagaypayan-Sioton farmer-to-market-road with 28.60 linear meters bridge.
DA Regional Executive Director Rad Donn Cedeño said the projects benefit 445 households, whose livelihood revolve in the production of rubber, coconut, corn, banana, upland rice and other crops.
The Mabuhay town officials, headed by Municipal Mayor Edreluisa Calonge, thanked the DA for the realization of their dream to connect its people from the 11 eastern villages that for a long time has been disconnected to the municipal center due to the town's geography.
“The bridge is the gateway to 11 barangays that connects the people with the other seven barangays of Mabuhay. Those from 11 barangays would no longer say that they come from the other side of the island,” Calonge said.
The municipal government of Mabuhay shared P13.9 million, representing 10 percent of the total cost to farm-to-market road and bridge projects.
“Our farmers and fishermen used to sail their bancas. Now they drive their own motorcycles in bringing their products to the market. The same is true to teachers, today they can easily go to their schools of assignment in the 11 barangays as well as the students, they can come and go to school any time of the day by land with no more worries of low tide and storm at sea,” Calonge said.
Cedeño expressed his gratitude to the military and also to the active involvement of the municipal government, which resulted in the completion of the projects.
“The people of Mabuhay deserve development and progress. During the start of the project, we had struggled on peace and security, that is why we have tapped the assistance of the Army to ensure its smooth implementation,” Cedeño said.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Leonel Nicolas, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, reiterated his full commitment to support all development programs that will pave way for sustainable peace in his area of responsibility.
“I have witnessed the transformation of this town since my first deployment in the region as a young lieutenant in 1991. This town and Zamboanga Sibugay as a whole had gone a long way, and the brigade will continue to play its role in pushing forward our communities to peace and progress,” Nicolas said. (SunStar Zamboanga)