Davao del Norte, July 16 – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Davao thru Assistant Regional Director Venchito Mandap turned over on Friday (July 11) the amount of P2.2 million to the Local Government of the Municipality of Asuncion as an initial capital for the opening, upgrading as well as rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads (FMRs).
The project aimed to provide the farmers in the locality easy and convenient access roads for the delivery of their agricultural products to the market as well as lure traders to get their agricultural products straight from the farmers’ agricultural area.
The project also aimed to provide “all weather” access roads to benefit nearly a thousand identified farmers in the area, which will eventually bring significant reduction in transportation expenses and faster delivery of agricultural products among other consequent benefits.
Before, farmers used to worry about the coming of unexpected rains that usually made their roads impassable that caused unnecessary delays in the delivery of their agricultural produce.
As the locality is principally devoted to the production of exportable Cavendish bananas, delay in the delivery of this kind would be too costly to the investors. The completion of the project will generate inclusive growth in the municipality and would attract more investors to venture in the area.
In his turn-over message, Assistant Regional Director Mandap stressed that agrarian reform program does not end simply by distributing agricultural lands to the landless farmers but by providing the necessary support services to ensure the economic viability of the program of improving agricultural production and uplifting the quality of life of the farmers.
He expressed confidence that the completion of the project is a leap towards the right direction.
In his message, Asuncion Municipal Mayor Joseph Nilo Farreñas expresses thanks to DAR as the project will not only help the economic condition of the farmers but also contributes to the increase of the agricultural production and revenue to the municipality.
It is also anticipated that the project will spawn enthusiasm in the banana industry in the area.
Upon completion of the project, an additional amount will be released again to the LGU of Asuncion, which will be taken from the Bottom-Up and Budgeting program implementation funds of DAR.
This Bottom-Up Planning and Budgeting (BUB), now called the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB), was formally adopted as a strategy in pursuing the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing poverty, as well as the national government’s goals of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, as indicated in the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
The program is also intended to make the planning and budgeting processes of both local and national governments more participatory through the genuine involvement of grassroots organizations and communities, and to strengthen the convergence of the delivery of national services in the community.
DAR is among the 13 participating government agencies in the implementation of the BUB/GPB.
Last 2 May 2014, the amount of P1.2 million was also released to the LGU Kapalong Municipality under the BUB/GPB program. (DAR PR)
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