Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella wants the creation of more farm-to-market roads to link even the remotest villages to the city and town market centers.
Estrella directed DAR regional and provincial offices to submit their proposed farm-to-market road projects that would connect completed bridge projects to the main roads.
He gave the order in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to extend the necessary support services to the farming sector to resuscitate the country’s agriculture industry by improving the flow of food supply.
“The best way to improve the flow of food supply is to improve our road networks, from as far as the remotest villages to the main roads leading to the market centers so that farmers themselves can bring their fresh harvests easily,” he said.
In Memorandum No. 326 of 2022, DAR Undersecretary for Support Services, Milagros Isabel Cristobal, provided the DAR field offices with a list of completed and ongoing bridge projects under the Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-agraryo.
“Please identify from the attached list of completed and ongoing TPKP projects that will require an extension of the bridge approach roads to connect them to the main thoroughfares,” she said.
The DAR chief believes that to improve the road networks would help farmers maximize their earning potentials.
“With improved road network, the cost of hauling or transportation will be much lower and affordable for our farmers,” he said.