By Bohol Standard
For agriculture-based municipality of Catigbian, a new farm-to-market road literally paves the way for economic growth. Gov. Edgar M. Chatto underscored infrastructure as a major concern of Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) as it encourages farmers to become more productive.
Aside from reducing hauling cost, travel time, and product spoilage, the farm-to-market road increases commodity flow and opens additional lands for production, spurring economic activity, he said.
A partnership of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Local Government Unit of Catigbian, the 3.2 kilometer road traversing Barangays Poblacion Weste, Sinakayanan, and Ambuan is the first wave of implementation of a multi-million project in the municipality.
The road project is a component of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III (ARISP III) funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
ARISP III involves a tripartite approach, collaboration among the implementing agencies. It involves construction/rehabilitation of rural infrastructure such as irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, post harvest facilities, and rural water supply systems, agrarian reform information and marketing center building, development of coop-managed agri-business/rural enterprise/ livelihood farmers' organizations in the ARCs through appropriate training and capacity building approaches.
Set to be completed on March of 2012, the road is poised to be the longest concreted road yet in the town, according to Mayor Bert Salinas.
DAR Regional Director Rudolfo Inson assured the agency’s commitment to help agrarian reform communities, revealing that Catigbian is also a beneficiary of farm-to-market roads in Poblacion Weste – Rizal, Poblacion – Poblacion Weste – Rizal – Libertad, Poblacion Weste – Cambauane; the Catigbian Communal Irrigation Project; as well as a Post Harvest Facility.
Inson is positive that the construction of the farm-to-market road shall motivate farmers to produce more and augment their lives in the process.
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