The Department of Public Works and Highways has completed the construction of 440.14 kilometers of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) costing P2.36 billion.
Under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 (ARISP-III), DPWH implemented the construction of 126 FMR projects that aim to benefit hundreds of agricultural communities from across the country.
In Region 1, 17 farm-to-market roads with total length of 54.46 kilometers were completed at a cost of P296 million. This includes the improvement of 13.5-kilometer Lichauco-Evangelista Road and construction of vented spillway along Evangelista-Panganiban Road in Pangasinan.
In CAR, 8 projects or a combined 41.83 kilometers of roads, were accomplished in the amount of P232 million. One of the major FMRs completed in the Cordillera is the construction and improvement of the 16-kilometer Bugnay-Buscalan-Butbut Road with bridge and spillway in the municipality of Tinglayan in Kalinga province.
DPWH also completed 36.63 kilometers of FMRs in Region 2 in the amount of P137 million. A total of 12 FMRs were constructed, including the improvement of 7.8-kilometer San Antonio-Mapalad-Bautista FMR with 22 linear meters bridge in Isabela.
In Central Luzon, 19 projects having total road length of 49.54 kilometers, at a cost of P224 million were completed. It includes the improvement of 6.7-kilometer portion of San Ildefonso (Sitio Mapiña) Road in Pampanga.
For Regions 4A and 4B, 34.58-kilometers and 19 kilometers of FMRs were completed costing P200 million and P138 million, respectively. The longest FMRs accomplished in these 2 regions are the construction of 7.59-kilometer Barangay Jaybanga-Barangay Nagtaluntong Road in Jaybanga and Apar, Lobo, Batangas and improvement of JPR Tiondonan-JPR Mendoza Proper Road in Jofel, Palawan.
Agrarian communities of Region 5 on the other hand now utilize the 5 FMRs with total length of 17.74 kilometers costing P83 million. This includes the improvement of 4.76-kilometer Matoog-toog-Pambuhan Road in Pambuhan, Mercedes, Catanduanes.
DPWH also finished constructing a total of 17 FMRs in Region 6 with combined road length of 59.32 kilometers; 5 in Region 7 with 19.12 kilometers; and 3 road projects in Region 8 with 5.9 kilometers length, with a total cost of P497 million.
Additionally, DPWH completed 49.27 kilometers of farm to market roads from the 11 projects in Region 10, amounting to P243 million.
In Regions 11, 12, 13, the department finished implementing: 7 projects with span of 21.46 kilometers, 2 projects with 5.89 kilometers; and 8 projects with 25.36 kilometers of FMRs respectively.
With the completed projects, DPWH now has accomplished 85 percent of the needed road projects for the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase 3 which is expected to be completed within the year 2014.
To date, only 25 farm-to-market road projects remain under construction, with 12 under pre-construction, and 12 others under pre-engineering activities.
Upon completion, FMRs will provide access to agricultural goods to the market, as well as support for the establishment of agri-business enterprises by promoting linkages between and among the 175 agrarian reform communities in 54 provinces.