DAR approves 19 irrigation, road projects in land reform areas

A bridge in Mindanao serves as a lifeline for impoverished upland farmers. ADB PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agrarian Reform has approved P400 million in projects involving the construction of irrigation facilities and farm-to-market roads for agrarian reform communities nationwide, officials said on Friday.

Through the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP), the DAR announced the approval of 19 irrigation and farm-to-market road projects costing P411.1 million to be implemented in various agrarian reform communities or ARCs.

In a news release, Agrarian Reform Assistant Secretary Dennis Barrantes, chairman of the National Sub-Project Approval Committee, said emphasis was placed on the “economic value” of the projects, especially in areas covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

“The body realized that these projects are badly needed by the farmers in rural areas to improve the quality of their lives,” he said.

“For instance, the San Isidro ARC’s rice fields are heavily dependent on rain and the road leading to their farms is hardly passable by vehicles,” Barrantes said.

Regions 4-B, 5, 8 and 9 will benefit from the Asian Development Bank-funded infrastructure projects, consisting of 11 irrigation facilities and eight farm-to-market roads, Region 8 Director Eliasem Castillo said.

Irrigation projects approved for implementation in Region 8 include the Bunacan Communal Irrigation Project in San Isidro, Leyte, and the  Cagnocot Communal Irrigation Project in Villaba, Leyte; and the rehabilitation of Tabunok and the Tagbawto Communal Irrigation Systems both in Hilongos, Leyte. The total cost for these projects is P135.2-million.

Meanwhile, three farm-to-market road projects are for implementation in two Leyte towns and one in Eastern Samar with a combined cost of

P49.7-million.

Barrantes said the town of San Isidro will benefit from two projects—an irrigation project and the rehabilitation of the 1.74-kilometer Bawod-Paril farm-to-market road.

He added that two more farm-to-market road projects have been approved. These are construction the 2.8-kilometer Capirawan-Gacao-Canhidoc-Arado road in Palo, Leyte, and the concreting of the 4.4-kilometer Cagaut-Cantomoja-Camanga-Carapdapan road in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.