TABUK CITY (PIA) — Kalinga’s agriculture industry is getting a significant infrastructure boost with the implementation of another Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-up subproject.
The P256 million Pinukpuk Junction-Pakawit-Binansagan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) rehabilitation project which formally broke ground on Oct. 10, 2024, is set to support the development of coffee, banana, rice, and other commodities in the beneficiary areas.
Spanning 12.5 kilometers, the road will directly connect barangays Pinukpuk Junction, Pakawit, and Bayaw to market centers in Kalinga as well as in Cagayan, greatly enhancing farmers’ access to markets and easing the transport of products.
Around benefit 498 households or 2,164 individuals in the area will directly benefit from the project.
“Now, women and men farmers will soon transport their products more quickly and efficiently, ultimately leading to higher incomes,” said Department of Agriculture -Cordillera Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Dr. Arlene M. Sagayo during the groundbreaking ceremony.
The people and officials of Pinukpuk and the beneficiary barangays expressed their gratitude for the project, committing to do their part in ensuring that it will be implemented well.
“Makakita tayo ti kalsada nga permanente ngem awan ti permanente nu haan tayo bantayan ken proteksyonan,” Pinukpuk Mayor Irving B. Dasayon said.
[We will soon see a permanent road, but nothing is permanent we will not look after it and protect it.]
“Nu malukatan daytoy nga project, umasideg ti ospital, haan kamin ag likaw nga mapan Taga. Maiyeg min pay ditoy sentro ti Pinukpuk ti produkto mi. Dakel ti agbaliwan nan tu nu malpas daytoy kalsa,” Bayaw Punong Barangay Macario Balicod said.
[If this road will be opened, the hospital will be nearer. We will no longer have to pass through Taga. We can bring to Pinukpuk central all our products. There would be big changes with the completion of the road.]
A flagship program of the DA, the PRDP aims to establish a modern, value chain-oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.
Kalinga has greatly benefitted from the program, receiving P1.40 billion worth of infrastructure subprojects and P21.30 million worth of enterprise subprojects since it began, according to Sagayo.
Governor James S. Edduba credited the success of the projects to the efforts of the Provincial Project Management and implementing unit and the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.
Like the previous PRDP projects, the Kalinga provincial government provided a ten percent counterpart fund for the Pinukpuk Junction-Pakawit-Binansagan FMR rehabilitation project. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
