The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) is presently implementing a total of P52 million worth of farm-to-market road projects in Southern Leyte.
DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia said that nine (9) road improvement projects in Maasin City and Malitbog town are underway to aid the locals, specifically farmers with the delivery of their farm products to commercial districts.
Recipients of projects are residents of a total of 14 villages in Maasin City as DPWH is paving the San Jose to Gawisan Road in the amount of P8 million; the Tawid Road, Matin-ao to Cansirung Road, Tomoy-Tomoy Road, Nonok Norte to San Agustin Road, and Bactul I to Bactul II Road amounting to P5 million each; and the Nati to Bato I Road and Pinaskuhan to Hinapo Gamay Road amounting to P7 million each.
Three (3) barangays in the town of Malitbog will also benefit from the ongoing concreting of local road from San Vicente to Pancil to Aurora costing P5 million.
“When completed, these paved roads will facilitate farmers’ direct access to commercial hubs and improve rural communities’ access to health centers, education facilities, and other opportunities,” said Engineer Junia.
“Inasmuch as farming is one of the major sources of income in the province of Southern Leyte, the improvement and construction of farm-to-market roads will not only mark down the price of agricultural products, make food more available to consumers, but also augment livelihood, eventually help curb high poverty incidence in the province,” added Junia.