HERMOSA, Bataan (PIA) — Farmers and residents of Sitio Nazareno and Barangay Culis in Hermosa town now have improved access to markets following the turnover of a 5.72-kilometer farm-to-market road built under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
The P90.3-million road project, implemented through the DA-PRDP’s I-BUILD component, directly links agricultural communities to town markets, reducing travel time, minimizing post-harvest losses, and increasing income potential for local farmers.
The new road benefits producers of mangoes, coconuts, bananas, vegetables, and other high-value crops, as well as residents from nearby communities.
The project forms part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to modernize Philippine agriculture and strengthen rural infrastructure, as underscored in his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The President emphasized that improving farm productivity and ensuring the profitability of agriculture remain among the administration’s top priorities.
“Kaya patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura upang mapabilis, mapadali, at mapalakas ang produksyon — mula sa pagpunla, pag-ani at paghuli, hanggang sa pagbiyahe at pagbenta — at upang maiwasan din ang pagkasira ng mga produkto (That is why we continue to support the agricultural sector to speed up, facilitate, and boost production — from planting and harvesting, to transportation and marketing — and alsoto prevent product spoilage),” the President said during his 2024 SONA.
Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III highlighted the road’s positive impact on the province’s agricultural communities.
“Magbibigay-daan ang proyektong ito sa mas mataas na kita ng mga magsasaka, malawak na oportunidad sa paghahanapbuhay ng ating mga kababayan, at mas maraming proyektong pangkaunlaran sa Bataan (This project will pave the way for more income for farmers, more livelihood opportunities for our countrymen, and more development projects in Bataan),” Garcia said.
Barangay Culis Captain Manolito Paule also expressed gratitude for the project, noting its significant benefits to local farmers.
“Ngayon, nakakarating nang sariwa sa pamilihan ang mga prutas at ani. Dati, nadudurog o nasisira pa ang mga produkto sa daan (Now, fruits and produce arrive fresh at the market. In the past, products were crushed or damaged along the way),” Paule shared.
The DA-PRDP continues to fulfill its mandate of empowering rural communities and enhancing agricultural competitiveness through strategic infrastructure projects, supporting the Marcos administration’s vision of food security and improved livelihoods for Filipino farmers. (MJSC/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
