TARLAC CITY (PIA) — A P71.5 million fund is allocated for four farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Concepcion, Tarlac through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 3 and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Tarlac 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO), strengthening farm connectivity in the municipality.
DA Regional Executive Director Eduardo Lapuz Jr. said under the MOA, the four projects with a combined length of 5.43 kilometers, that are funded under the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 will be implemented through the DPWH.
These FMRs are the 1.161 kilometer Barangay Balutu road, 1.50625 kilometer Barangay Santiago road, 1.555 kilometer Barangay Castillo road, and 1.212 kilometer Barangay Balutu–Barangay Panalicsican road.
Part of the project implementation will include the joint revalidation and geotagging of approved FMR sites, as well as the preparation and review of necessary technical documents in accordance with DA standards.
Under the agreement, DA will be responsible for the technical review, field-level coordination and monitoring, assessment of the physical and financial progress of the projects, and coordination with DPWH and concerned stakeholders in their implementation.
Meanwhile, DPWH Tarlac 2nd DEO will handle procurement, contract award, construction supervision, contract administration, and quality control for the projects.
The MOA also provides for joint inspections by the two agencies of completed FMR projects before their turnover and acceptance by the concerned local government unit (LGU).
Following the turnover, the LGU will then be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the completed projects.
The initiative contributes to the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector by improving infrastructure and connectivity that support farmers and the movement of agricultural products. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
