ALMERIA, Biliran, November 5 – More than P37 million worth of rural development projects had been turned over in October by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in two Biliran towns.
DAR Assistant Regional Director for Program Beneficiaries Development Ismael Aya-ay led in the turnover of three irrigation projects, a farm-to-market road (FMR) and a potable water system to the local government units of Cabucgayan and Almeria.
The local chief executives of the said towns likewise turned over on the same occasion to the recipient barangays, irrigators’ associations and barangay water services association the completed projects for the operation and maintenance.
With a combined total cost of P37.6 million, these projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) thru the third phase of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP-3), according to Aya-ay, are expected to hasten economic growth in the agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in these municipalities.
In Cabucgayan, DAR commissioned the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to rehabilitate the irrigation system in Barangay Magbangon which now supplies water to about 53 hectares of ricefields here and in adjacent Barangay Libertad.
Another project turned over in this municipality is the potable water system implemented in Barangay Balaquid, which according to Mayor Gemma Adobo, is of big help in securing the health of the 208 households. Like irrigation, health is also an important factor in rural development, she added.
In Almeria, DAR also commissioned NIA for the construction of an irrigation system in Barangay Iyusan and rehabilitated the one in Barangay Jamorawon that could now supply water to about 102 hectares of rice terraces in these upland villages.
Almeria Mayor Dominador Agajan said during the turnover that this may now be the realization of their town’s vision of becoming the tourism hub and rice basket of the province.
On the newly-concreted 4.4-kilometer farm-to-market road from Sitio Pitoguhan of Barangay Jamorawon to Barangay Iyusan, Agajan said he never expected it would be this beautiful and durable. Road accidents in this area will now be avoided, he added.
For the road improvement, DAR tapped the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the concreting where more than 2,600 residents are expected to benefit.
Meanwhile, DAR Regional Director Sheila Enciso disclosed that an agricultural warehouse in Barangay Balaquid in Cabucgayan is soon to be turned over too to the agrarian reform beneficiaries organization (ARBO) to complete the package of support services in the area.
The warehouse is also funded by JICA under ARISP-3, she added.
Enciso hope these projects would help not only improve the quality of life of the ARBs here but also in the economic development of the region particularly the agriculture sector. (JAS/DAR-8)
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