BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The P87 million worth of infrastructure projects were turned over by the Department of Agriculture and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to the local government units of Manapla and Toboso in Negros Occidental, after the series of inaugurations on October 21.
DA regional director Remelyn Recoter and Lacson turned over the P48 million farm to market road project in Manapla to Mayor Manuel Escalante.
Lacson said that DA-PRDP (Philippine Rural Development Project) road project is from Brgy. 1A to Punta Salong, with 10,565 households as direct beneficiaries.
Noting the difficulty of farmers in transporting their agricultural goods for a long time, further aggravated by the pandemic and vulnerability to frequent weather changes, Lacson said “that is why rural infrastructure is a major development priority of the provincial government.”
As a predominantly agricultural province, Lacson said developing agriculture and uplifting the lives of Negense farmers and fisherfolks are among the primary concern and priority of his administration.
Agriculture and fisheries need not be limited to mere production, it has to be a viable source of income and must be enhanced by entrepreneurship. Thus, it must be our primary goal to enhance the market potential of our local products, he added.
On the same day, Lacson and DA representatives also led the inauguration and ceremonial turnover of the P39 million Himoga-an Bridge in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso, which was also attended by Mayor Richard Jaojoco and other town officials.
The 75 linear meter bridge is a subproject of the DA-PRDP and constructed with 80-10-10 counterparting scheme from the World Bank, national government, and the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Lacson also said that the project will hasten the mobilization and transportation of the local farm produce to market centers.
“Rural infrastructure raises agricultural productivity and its benefits are not only limited to agricultural development, it also provides better access to education and health care”, he stressed.*