The newly constructed 11.91-kilometer farm to market road (FMR) implemented under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) is expected to boost the existing coffee industry of the local residents of Atok, Benguet.
Scheduled to be turned over on October 29, 2020 after some challenging years of its implementation, the FMR along Jose Mencio Road in Atok, Benguet has a project cost of ₱ 202.31 million funded by the World Bank, with counterpart funding from the DA and the provincial government of Benguet.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said that since the road project was reported by the province as 100 percent physically completed as of August 14, 2020, it should now be turned over to the beneficiaries.
The road project will benefit the six barangays in Atok – Abiang, Caliking, Topdac, Poblacion, Naguey and Pasdong,
The FMR that started in the first quarter of 2017 is expected to boost coffee production and expand coffee plantation by 20 percent annually upon the operation of the subproject. The road improvement started at the intersection connecting barangays Caliking and Topdac and ends at the intersection connecting barangays Poblacion and Naguey, benefitting around 2,561 households.
Engr. Genesis Deloeg, PRDP Rural Infrastructure Engineer said that even though the contract period has already ended, the contractor and the implementing units continuously worked together to accomplish the rectification of defects and other unfinished work items to complete the subproject.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar is expected to lead the turnover ceremony.
(OIC Joe Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio | Elvy S. Taquio, photo courtesy by DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR InfoACE Unit)