CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plans to spend nearly P1 billion until 2016 to build farm-to-market roads in Northern Samar under the government’s so-called convergence initiative, a regional official said recently here.
The initiative involves pooled efforts of national government line departments aimed at raising agricultural production.
DPWH regional director Rolando M. Asis said a total of 32 road projects with an estimated combined cost of P936.55 million have been lined up until 2016 under this thrust.
“The total road length is 95 kilometers and this will benefit 11,700 residents,” Mr. Asis told local officials in a recent meeting.
“This program has a significant impact on increasing farm productivity and reducing poverty in the province,” he explained.
The projects will be concentrated in the towns of Catubig, Las Navas and Laoang, he added.
These areas are covered by the Convergence Agro-Enterprise Cluster Development that was launched here just last June.
These projects will be implemented in coordination with the departments of Agriculture and of Agrarian Reform, the prime movers of convergence initiatives, Mr. Asis added.
These projects are on top of the Samar Island Road for Peace and Development, a P4.6-billion program to improve 240 km of roads aimed at eventually eliminating the roots of insurgency by linking remote communities in the three Samar provinces to markets.
Government is also constructing P900 million worth of roads across the boundaries of the Samar provinces.
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By: S. Q. Meniano
Source: Business World, Sept. 27, 2011
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