The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the rehabilitation of a 12.676-kilometer
farm-to-market road (FMR) in Bohol, which is expected to boost the province’s agricultural
sector and improve the lives of the residents, Bohol Rep. Atty. Edgar M. Chatto has
announced.
The project, which costs Php625 million, is the biggest investment under the Philippine Rural
Development Project (PRDP), a World Bank-funded initiative that aims to enhance rural
infrastructure and enterprise development, Chatto said.
The FMR will connect the towns of Calape and Antequera, passing through seven
barangays that are known for their rice, corn, coconut, and livestock production.
The First District Representative, who pushed for the project since his term as governor,
expressed his gratitude to the DA for finally giving the green light to the long-awaited road
improvement.
Chatto said the project will not only reduce travel time and increase traffic volume, but also
improve agricultural productivity and bring about many other socio-economic benefits.
He thanked the DA for implementing the project, which will be funded by 80% from the World
Bank, 10% from the national government, and 10% from the local government unit.
DA 7 Regional Director Angel Enriquez and PRDP in charge Engineer Boy Namoc explained
that the project was delayed due to the strict social and environmental safeguards
compliance, technical design of the four bridges, and augmentation of the PRDP funding
under the Scale Up program.
The project is one of the many PRDP interventions that have been completed or are ongoing
in the province, such as the rehabilitation of FMRs in Sagbayan, Loboc, Balilihan, Catigbian,
and Inabanga.
Based on the plan, the road project covers 12.676 kms, approximately 11km in Calape and
approximately 1.5 km in Antequera. This traverses the barangays of Desamparados,
Ulbujan, Labuon, Binugawan, Cabudburan, Cabayugan in Calape and Tabuan in Antequera.
Rehabilitation of San Agustin – Canmaya Diot, Sagbayan FMR, Alegria -Bugho, Loboc FMR,
Del Carmen Weste Via Tugbas, Balilihan FMR, Baang – Mahayag Norte, Catigbian FMR,
Dagnawan – Dagohoy, Inabanga FMR have so far been completed under the PRDP.
Meanwhile, ongoing are the Rehabilitation of Campagao – Cabacnitan Bilar FMR and Pondol
Candaigan Loon FMR.