Cordillera to implement P441M infra projects; Mt. Province gets biggest share - P287M FMR with Bridge

Baguio City, Philippines—The recently approved infrastructure subprojects worth P441 million will proceed regardless of changes in political leadership, the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera region assured.

The Cordillera Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) gave a green light to the three subprojects under the scale-up of the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) at their May 7 meeting.

Infra subprojects in Ifugao

According to DA—PRDP Cordillera, the rehabilitation of the Puntagguwan—Poblacion Communal Irrigation System in Hingyon, Ifugao, worth P9.77 million, is among the greenlit projects. The system, said to have been constructed in the 1980s, suffered from decades of limited maintenance.

Upon completion of the rehabilitation, the irrigation coverage will expand from 2.68 hectares to 26.56 hectares, boosting the productivity of heirloom rice farmers in barangays Cabbuyan South and Poblacion.

Meanwhile, the P144.26 million worth of Improvement of the Bannit – Nunhabatan – Hapid Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Lamut, Ifugao is set to improve mobility and help farmers deliver their cardava bananas to market more efficiently, increasing their income opportunities.

Spanning 6.62 kilometers, the road will connect barangays Payawan and Hapidi and is expected to increase income opportunities for 800 households involved in the production of cardava banana.

P287M project in Paracelis, Mt. Province

The largest approved initiative is the Malamtam – Bitabit – Catao FMR with a bridge, with a budget of P287 million. The road’s 9.05-kilometer stretch will link Paracelis, Mt. Province, to Quezon, Isabela. An agreement between the two provinces has been in place since a 1.8-kilometer section of the road falls within Isabela’s jurisdiction.

The major project is expected to enhance access to health care, education, and markets for 876 households or over 3,300 individuals. Likewise, the road will help streamline local logistics and emergency response.

Continuity amid change

Deputy Project Director Danilo Daguio of the Regional Project Coordination Office – Cordillera has expressed confidence that these newly approved subprojects will move forward regardless of shifts in local leadership brought about by the midterm polls.

The projects, spanning irrigation and farm-to-market road works, are set to begin procurement upon issuance of the No Objection Letter 1.