Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay Tuyo in Balanga, Bataan, will soon
benefit from the construction of a P10.3 million farm-to-market road.
A memorandum of agreement has been formally signed between DAR and Balanga
Mayor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III for the construction of the Montilla-San Rafael road.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Eric San Luis said the road project will cover 1.1 kilometers and “will help reduce travel time and transportation cost of farm
commodities of the farmer-beneficiaries of Tuyo agrarian reform community and also
of the residents of the community.”
With loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project is being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under phase 3 of the
Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program (ARISP-3) and in partnership with
the local government of Balanga.
According to Mayor Garcia, the road project will not only benefit the farmers but also the 1,283 farming household of Balanga. “This road will allow ease of transportation
for the community’s products like vegetables, fruits and rice to conveniently reach the
market centers.”
“Roads are part of the support services provided to agrarian reform communities (ARCs) to bring down farm production cost of farmers and to boost the economic
activities in the area,” said San Luis.
ARISP-3 provides support services like irrigation, post-harvest facilities, bridges,
etc. to agrarian reform communities in 55 provinces nationwide in support for the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
ARCs are composed of farmers in clusters of barangays awarded with CARP lands and with convergence of services from different national and local government service agencies and donor countries. -30- PAS, DAR
