DAR turns over Php 14.11-M bridge projects in Nueva Ecija
Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over today, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, two (2) bridge projects, with a total cost of Php14.11-million, in this town benefitting about 8,747 residents of barangays San Mariano, Las Piñas and Sinajasan.
The Php 7.125-million San Mariano-Barrio Militar Bridge, with a length of 40.20-linear meter, connects with City of Palayan , while the Php 6.981-million Diwalaan bridge has span of 17.40 linear meters, linking the barangays of Las Piñas and Sinajasan.
DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones said these projects would benefit Novo Ecijano farmers, particularly the agency’s 566 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) tilling around 1,621 hectares of agricultural lands, in transporting their products to various markets and trading centers.
“Through these bridges, they would now have cheaper and easier access to their destinations. The time they saved from their usual trip could be spent in cultivating their farms to increase their yields in the coming days,” Brother John said.
The Secretary divulged that the provision of support services is a continuing activity of the DAR to boost the food production of the country and improve the lives of the farmers.
“What is the use of giving them lands if we don’t provide support services such as infrastructure facilities, capacity building training, farm inputs and equipment, among other government interventions? We should know their concerns and issues and give them what they need to ensure that the lands we distribute would be productive enough to improve the farmers’ lives,” he explained.
Brother John added that abundance of farm yields in the countryside guarantees the country’s food security.
According to Central Luzon Regional Director Ma. Celestina Tam, the infrastructure projects are implemented through “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo Project,” in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government of Peñaranda.