By Noel Y. Punzalan
COTABATO CITY, Aug. 13 (PNA) -– To improve the flow of goods and agricultural products in the province, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) started concreting works of a seven-kilometer farm-to-market road in the town of Talayan, officials said Wednesday.
Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman along with Secretary Makmod Mending and Secretary Emil Sadain, the region’s agriculture and public works secretary, respectively, signed a memorandum of agreement Wednesday with Talayan Mayor Tungkang Midtimbang on the implementation of the project.
The seven kilometer, P70-million road will link Barangays Poblacion and Marader, two highly agricultural communities, to the town proper.
Hataman said the project will be funded by ARMM’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program and will be undertaken by the region’s Department of Public Works and Highways.
The PAMANA program is the national government’s flagship program that extends development interventions to the isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, according to a statement released by the ARMM Bureau of Public Information (BPI-ARMM).
Hataman said once completed, the road will enhance the transport of farm products and help spur growth in the Talayan complex which is composed of the towns of Guindulungan, Talayan, Datu Anggal and even the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Piang.
The ARMM governor also spearheaded the inauguration of a P1.4 million road project in the town that links Barangay Tamar to the main highway in Barangay Poblacion and the groundbreaking of a P12-million, 1.3-kilometer road project in Barangay Calaan in Buldon town.
Hataman said the farm-to-market roads are expected to improve trade and commerce in remote areas of Maguindanao.
He added more farm to market roads are already in the list of DPWH for implementation within the year and in 2015. (PNA)