More infrastructure projects were turned over by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Department of Agriculture to local officials of Manapla and Toboso in Negros Occidental Oct. 21.
A P48-million farm-to-market road project was inaugurated and turned over by Lacson and DA 6 regional executive director Remelyn Recoter to Mayor Manuel Escalante III.
The road project starts from Brgy. 1A to Punta Salong, and is expected to benefit 10,565 households.
Lacson said the difficulty of transporting agricultural goods has been endured by farmers for a long time now, aggravated by the pandemic, and frequent weather changes.
That is why rural infrastructure is a major development priority of the provincial government, he added.
“To the people of Manapla, particularly farmers and fisherfolk, please know that your provincial government and your local government have your best interest at heart, and we are going to do what we can to assist and empower you,” he said.
Lacson and DA 6 representatives also led the inauguration and ceremonial turnover of the P39 million Himoga-an Bridge in Brgy. Bug-ang, Toboso.
The 75-linear meter bridge is a subproject of the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project, and constructed with an 80-10-10 counter-parting scheme from the World Bank, the national government, and the provincial government of Negros Occidental, respectively.
Lacson said the project will hasten the mobilization and transportation of farm produce to market centers.
“Rural infrastructure raises agricultural productivity and its benefits are not only limited to agricultural development, it also provides better access to education and health care,” he added. — GB
