Local farmers and residents in various barangays in Zarraga in central Iloilo can now easily transport their products to the market and neighboring towns with the construction of a ₱32.3-million paved access road.
The access road located at Brgy. Inagdangan Centro to Brgy. Talibong in Zarraga town is undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Iloilo 4th District Engineering Office.
In his report to DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno, OIC-District Engineer Mario G. Soriano said the project, which is funded under the District’s FY 2022 Regular Infrastructure Program through the Sustainable Infrastructure Project Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG), involves the concreting of a 2.9-kilometer long, 2.25-meter wide, 2-lane Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) access road with gravel shoulders and slope protection.
“This service road will serve as the primary access of the commuters, residents and farmers, providing faster and more convenient access in the transport of products and services from farms to market. This will likewise provide easier delivery of basic government services even to the remote areas in the town,” Engr. Bueno said.
This access road traverses along rice fields and other agricultural lands, hence, its improvement will greatly benefit the people in the area, especially rice and vegetable farmers, and animal raisers. With this concrete road, it is the hope of DPWH that farmers can easily transport their products from farms to the market, which could eventually help alleviate their economic condition.
“With this improved road condition, travel time and transport cost in the delivery of agricultural products from farms to the market will be reduced. This will also reduce vehicle operating costs, providing more income to our farmers,” Director Bueno stressed.
Meantime, Engr. Soriano said that other than easier transport of farm products, the improved road will provide faster and more convenient access from Iloilo East Coast Capiz Road to Iloilo-Capiz Road (New Route), and vice versa.
“This concrete road will also aid the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) in their performance of their maintenance works,” he added.
“True to its mandate, DPWH continues to implement significant road projects that will connect our rural communities to main thoroughfares for faster transportation and easy access to basic government services.” (DPWH-6)
