Zamboanga City (30 September) -- "Imagine travelling through these road segments used to be one hour and thirty minutes. But now it only takes 15 minutes. Rice production before was expensive due to transportation cost. Thank you very much. This project gives tremendous impact benefits in the lives of the people here especially the farmers."

Diplahan Mayor, Atty. Wilter Y. Palma proudly said during the recent Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) ribbon cutting and turnover ceremony held on-site.

The 6.64 kilometer Diplahan FMR is a counter parting project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) thru its Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector (InfRES) project with the Municipality of Diplahan. The three completed road segments were Tinongtungan to Goling (2.60 km), Sonkuya to Lobing (2.04 km), and Sonkuya to Lindang (2 Km) amounting to 11,576,993.74 pesos. The Municipality of Diplahan counterparted 20% of the total budget requirement or 2,315398.74 pesos, 7.70% from the barangay beneficiaries or 891,428.51 pesos, 22.30% from the DA or 2,581,669.60 pesos and 50% loan proceed from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or 5,788,496.87 pesos.

DA Regional Executive Director Oscar O. Parawan said "we are as good as our partners. The Municipality of Diplahan showed aggressiveness in project implementation. That is why the DA gave them due recognition by keeping pace with their political will to finish project such as the FMR." Parawan added that the Diplahan Municipality is one of the rice granaries of Zamboanga Sibugay Province thus FMR and other infrastructure to increase rice production are needed. "Our partnership with LGUs in project implementation depends on their willingness to put up their counterpart not only in InfRES but the rest of our projects."

Robert de Kruyft, team leader and project management specialist represented by Engr. Rizalino del Socorro said Diplahan is one of the 94 LGUs supported by DA-InfRES. "Diplahan showed capability in the preparation of documents and willingness to counterpart and supervise project implementation. Even with DA's support, it is your responsibility to ensure that this project will be fully used by the beneficiaries," Rizalino read Kruyft's message before farmers, agriculture extension workers, and municipal and barangay officials.

Barangay Chairman Fernando Fuig for his part promised "ampingan ug mintinahon namo kining maong proyekto" (we will take care and maintain this project).

The three road segments which started construction in 2008 are serving 840 households. DA-InfRES aims to augment income and alleviate poverty in the countryside, develop infrastructure and capacitate LGUs in project implementation. (PIA-IX/DA-IX)