VIGA, CATANDUANES — Benito Tumaquip, resident of Brgy. Ogbong, an abaca farmer, used to pay P65 fare via habal-habal (motorcycle) to reach his three-hectare farm in Brgy. Mabini. During rainy season, he could hardly tend to his farm because of the unpaved road.

“Pag panahon na tag-uran talagang nasasakitan kami, nagpaparabaklay ta di nakaagi maski bisikleta ta mahalnas,” Tumaquip said.

Tumaquip is among the beneficiaries who witnessed the groundbreaking of the 5.50-kilometer Concreting of Junction Ogbong to Mabini Farm to Market Road in Viga, this province on January 12, 2022.

The P176.97 million-worth infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject under the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) aims to upgrade the existing gravel road traversing five barangays in the road influence area (RIA) namely Brgys. Ogbong, Ananong, Mabini, Sta. Rosa and Magsaysay.

The PRDP-funded FMR is designed to connect abaca farms to the market. Data from the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) shows that as of 2019 Viga is the third top abaca-producing municipalities in Bicol with 1,889 farmers cultivating 5,156.17 hectares.

Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua thanked the DA-PRDP for facilitating the approval and implementation of the FMR subproject.

“By making this road concrete, we provide our fellow Viganon especially the three barangays of Ananong, Mabini and Ogbong, the local farmers an advantage and convenience of passing through the farm-to-market roads which will lead them to the market towns or any centers of enterprise without facing difficulties that they used to struggle with these unpaved roads,” Cua said.

DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office V (RPCO V) Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa oriented the audience about the PRDP. She also acknowledged the vital role of the Provincial Government, particularly the provincial governor, who pushed for the budget allocation of the 10 percent fund counterpart to the I-BUILD subproject.

Losa also enjoined the barangay captains and their constituents to do their part in strictly monitoring the project implementation saying “Hindi lang po ito responsibilidad ng kontraktor, responsibilidad din ito ng mga residente na maki-cooperate sa kontraktor. With your cooperation, nandito ang mga magigiting na barangay captain, tulungan po natin na matapos itong proyekto na maganda at sa tamang oras.”

“Nagpapasalamat kami na natawan kami ning tabang para sa kongkretong kalsada. Bilang parahagot, dakula ang kaogmahan namo ta hindi na kami masasakitan maski magkua na kami ning motor na puwedeng service dae na kami masasakitan pag-agi,” Tumaquip added.

Likewise, the barangay captains of three adjoining barangays that will benefit from the I-BUILD subproject expressed their gratitude and high hopes once the project is completed.

“Para sa amin po sa Brgy. Mabini, pag makongkreto na ang daan namin, mabilis lumabas ang aming produktong pang-agrikultura. Marami kaming abaca, copra, saging, pinya at marami pang iba at saka mga coconut dito. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka dahil sa dalawang oras naming mino-motor papunta ng Brgy. Mabini, pag nakonkreto na tabi yan, mga kalahating oras na lang andun na yung aming produkto,” Jommel T. Tilo, barangay captain of Brgy. Mabini said.

“Sa mga agriculture products, malaking bagay itong PRDP project na ito. Pag nangyari ito, umpisa sa aming barangay hanggang bayan, siguro kakayanin ang 10 minutes nandoon na sa bayan. Sa ngayon, gumagastos ng halos dalawang oras, lalo na pag ang tricycle nasisira. Pag naayos na ang kalsada, ang mga service, at mga kinakargahan ng agriculture products, siguro, makakatipid na sila sa gastos at saka sa oras. Ang pamasahe dyan sa tricycle, P30 hanggang sa bayan. Pagka gumanda na ang kalsada, siguro, mga P15 hanggang P10 puwede na kasi hindi na masisira ang mga sasakyan. Aabutin na lang ng 10 minutes pag single nga, mga 5 minutes aabutin nyan ang bayan pag maganda na ang kalsada,” related Jesus o. Cervantes Jr., barangay captain of Brgy. Ananong.

Joseph S. Ronquillo, barangay captain of Brgy. Ogbong, agreed saying “Sa sektor ng agrikultura, nung wala pa itong project na ito, ay medyo may kahirapan sa mga marginalized lalung-lalo na sa mga dependent sa agriculture. Pag nagawa ito, siguro, mapapaalwan o magiging madali ang kanilang pag-mobilize ng kanilang mga produkto at magkakaroon tayo ng maayos na ekonomiya. Yan po ang magiging balik nyan.”

A total of 3,093 population or 420 farmer households will benefit from the Concreting of Junction Ogbong to Mabini Farm to Market Road. The I-BUILD subproject is funded under the first tranche of the DA-PRDP’s 450 million dollar-worth additional financing from the World Bank, which amounts to 170 million dollars.

Losa and PRDP RPCO V I-BUILD Head Engr. Teodoro Eleda led the groundbreaking ceremony along with Cua. Municipal Assessor Engr. Ceferino Berces Jr., represented Mayor Emeterio Tarin during the activity. Also present during the occasion were Vice Mayor Cesar Cervantes, Municipal Agriculturist Gerardo Tumala, the Provincial Project Management Implementation Office headed by Engr. Elsie Reyes and Provincial Administrator Lemuel Surtida. Pre-construction conference for the said I-BUILD subproject will be conducted on January 19 to 20, 2022. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)