Game-Changer: ₱140M Farm-to-Market Road breaks ground in Lamut, Ifugao

Lamut, Ifugao – Local farmers in Lamut, Ifugao will soon have improved access to markets following the recent groundbreaking of a farm-to-market road (FMR) project in the town.

For many years, farmers from the upland sitios of Bannit and Nabanngan in Barangay Payawan, and Sitio Nunhabatan in Barangay Hapid, have struggled to transport their produce to markets due to poor road conditions.

Long travel times, high transportation costs, and impassable roads during the rainy season have often resulted in lower income and lost opportunities. To address these challenges, the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera has greenlit the farm-to-market road project.

According to the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP)–Cordillera, the 6.6-kilometer Bannit–Nunhabatan–Hapid FMR will be constructed as a double-lane road. The project is funded with ₱140 million through the DA-PRDP Scale-Up program, with a 30 percent cost-sharing contribution from the local government unit of Lamut under the leadership of Mayor Atty. Mariano B. Buyagawan Jr.

The agency said the road project is expected to be completed by May 2027 and will benefit around 2,956 farmers and residents in the area.

“Primarily designed to support the banana cardava industry, the subproject is expected to enhance connectivity, revive previously abandoned agricultural areas, and boost farm productivity and income opportunities for local farmers,” the DA-PRDP–Cordillera stated.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Buyagawan expressed his commitment to closely monitor the project’s implementation to prevent delays.

“We will stand firm on our mantra nga haan mangyari dijay slippage iti daytoy nga subproject, in the same manner nga aramiden met ti contractor tapno maipatumpal daytoy within the given timeframe,” the mayor was quoted as saying.

To further prevent delays, a pre-construction conference was conducted after the ceremony to ensure a smooth and efficient project rollout as construction gets underway.