THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently held an orientation and learning session to enhance the skills of CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluation focal persons, empowering them to manage farm-to-market road (FMR) projects effectively in rural areas.
DAR Support Services Office Undersecretary Rowena Niña O. Taduran emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to building and maintaining FMRs to bolster the agricultural sector and ensure food security.
She highlighted the critical role of these roads, especially during adverse weather conditions.
“Farm-to-market roads are not just pathways; they become lifelines for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), providing essential market access even during typhoons,” Taduran explained.
Participants from CAR, Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and VI convened in Iloilo City to discuss the National FMR Road Networks Plan and review the critical components of FMR project implementation.
Topics included an overview of the memorandum of agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)and Local Government Units (LGUs) as well as the responsibilities and reporting requirements of focal persons at the provincial and regional levels.
Western Visayas Regional Director Leomides R. Villareal highlighted the importance of FMR projects in connecting agricultural lands granted to ARBs with key markets and trading centers.
“These roads are essential for ARBs, enabling farmers to distribute their produce more efficiently and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Through CARP infrastructure projects, DAR continues to uphold its mission to deliver vital support services, strengthen the agrarian sector, and improve the livelihoods of ARBs nationwide.