Isabela Farmers to Benefit From P30-Million Farm-to-Market Road in San Mariano
Diario De Manila | Isabela Farmers to Benefit From P30-Million Farm-to-Market Road in San Mariano
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) — Farmers and residents in San Mariano, Isabela are expected to gain improved access to markets, farms, government services, and other economic opportunities following the completion and turnover of a 2.355-kilometer, P30-million farm-to-market road (FMR) connecting Sitio Malaya in Barangay Binatug to Barangay Gangalan.
The road project was implemented through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with support from the Municipal Government of San Mariano. It is expected to benefit 355 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 1,177 non-ARBs in the area.
The turnover formed part of the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” initiative, which highlights government efforts to bring essential infrastructure and public services closer to communities, particularly in rural and agrarian areas.
Farm-to-Market Road to Improve Farmers’ Access
According to DAR Region 2 Regional Director Primo C. Lara, infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads complement the agency’s agrarian reform programs by helping farmers gain better access to markets, services, and economic opportunities.
Lara also cited key DAR programs and initiatives, including the Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka (PBBM), the Project Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT), and the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
These initiatives support various aspects of farmers’ welfare, including land tenure, productivity, and access to opportunities.
San Mariano Community Welcomes New Road
Barangay Binatug Captain Camilo A. Bulan welcomed the completed road project, noting that many residents stand to benefit from the improved transportation access.
For DPWH Isabela, Engr. William B. Berin reminded residents that the newly completed infrastructure is now a community asset that should be properly used and protected.
Meanwhile, San Mariano Municipal Mayor Ana Cristina S. Go, who accepted the project on behalf of the municipality, recalled the challenges faced by farmers and residents when the road was still unpaved. She also expressed the local government’s commitment to helping preserve the infrastructure.
Representatives from DAR, DPWH, and the local government formally signed the Certificate of Turnover and Acceptance, officially marking the completion and transfer of the farm-to-market road to the community.
P152 Million Worth of FMR Projects Completed in September
The San Mariano project is one of several farm-to-market roads turned over by DAR Region 02 in September.
Including the San Mariano FMR, roads completed during the month reached a combined 11.9 kilometers, with total project costs of approximately P152 million. The projects are expected to benefit nearly 14,000 people across the region.
Farm-to-market roads play an important role in rural development by improving transportation links between farming communities and commercial areas. Better road access can help facilitate the movement of agricultural products, improve access to government services, and connect agrarian reform communities to markets and livelihood opportunities.
For farmers in San Mariano, the newly completed road is expected to provide a more reliable connection between their communities, farms, markets, and essential services.
The project underscores the role of rural infrastructure in supporting agricultural productivity, strengthening connectivity, and expanding economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities in Isabela.
(OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela; Photos courtesy of DAR Isabela)
