• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said on Monday, May 25 that the Provincial Development Council (PDC) has endorsed a proposed P12-billion farm-to-market road program for Negros Occidental during discussions on the province’s Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2027.
Escalante said the proposal, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and deliberated during the PDC meeting on May 22, will be submitted to the Regional Development Council (RDC) for approval and consideration.
He noted that all local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are included in the proposed farm-to-market road projects, which were identified based on studies conducted by the DA.
“The AIP is the wishlist of every LGU, especially the provincial government,” Escalante said, adding that the PDC expressed support and interest in endorsing the road projects to the RDC.
He said the proposed P12-billion budget is intended solely for Negros Occidental and is aimed at improving access roads in agricultural and hinterland communities to boost productivity and rural development.
Escalante also said the Negros Association of Chief Executives, which he heads, will meet on May 29 to pass a resolution supporting the DA programs.
He emphasized the importance of farm-to-market roads in modernizing agriculture and maximizing production in remote areas.
“For me, the only way to modernize and maximize agricultural production is if there is good access road,” Escalante said.
“If there is a good road, more technicians and government support services can reach the area. But if roads are bad, people are no longer interested to work there, he added. | GB
