Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat – Farmers and the town folks here can now easily traverse and connect to other nearby towns as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over a bridge and a farm-to-market road worth ₱ 108.7 million last August 14.
The projects include a 60-meter-long, 9.2-meter-wide concrete bridge, worth ₱ 34.4-M, connecting the barangays of Kalibuhan and Baluan, and a 9.8-kilometer road worth ₱ 74.2-M traversing various sitios of Kalibuhan and Baluan.
“We no longer have to travel upon muddy, slick and perilous roads just to travel to and from the town; we no longer have to push our way through the dangerous currents of the river just to bring food for our families; we no longer have to worry about the safety of the residents crossing the river, because finally, our dream was realized. Thanks to the DAR, ” said Abdillah T. Yusuf, an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) and barangay captain of Kalibuhan.
“The project was implemented in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government unit of Palimbang, who did a tremendous job in making sure that the bridge and FMR is well-built and can benefit the community for many generations ahead,” said DAR Regional Director Marion Y. Abella.
“This project will surely pave the way for development in the area and open new opportunities to the beneficiaries in the Upper Valley Agrarian Reform Community Cluster,” said Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Rodolfo T. Alburo.
To celebrate the significant event, the key officials of the coordinating agencies held a tree-planting activity to commemorate the turnover of the infrastructure projects to the beneficiaries, which will bear as a reminder that the government rekindles promises and uplifts people’s lives.
The infrastructure projects were implemented under the Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development (MinSAAD) Project. The project aims to alleviate poverty, develop agribusinesses, generate employment, promote peace and order as well as improve the quality of life through the provision of rural infrastructure and capacity building in the target settlement areas.
The MinSAAD is a joint project of the Governments of the Philippines and Japan funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that is spearheaded by the DAR in cooperation with other national line agencies.
It covers 12 settlements in Mindanao spanning 7 provinces: Lanao Norte, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur.
(Source: DAR Sultan Kudarat)