The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) P5-billion in funds for the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of farm to market roads (FMR) in key production areas on Feb. 15, 2021.
The fund, sourced from the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act, will be used to finance the leveling-up of road networks in selected areas in Visayas and MIMAROPA.
Under a signed Memorandum of Agreement, DA, through its Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), will identify proposed FMR sites and conduct project validation and geotagging alongside the regional field offices of DA.
The BAFE will ensure that the list of FMR projects is posted on the DA website, to reflect the following: approved network plan, number of beneficiaries, FMRs with corresponding budgetary allotment, project status supported by geotagged photos, and project assessment report.
Witnessing the turnover were Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Agriculture Undersecretaries Leocadio Sebastian, Waldo Carpio, and Roldan Gorgonio, Asst. Secretary Noel Reyes; and BAFE Director Ariodear Rico for the part of DA; and Asst. Secretary Antonio Molano Jr., and Engr. John Paul Gascon for DPWH. # # # (Photo by Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID)
