The Province of Ilocos Norte inaugurated the Rehabilitation of the Billoca-San Juan Farm to Market Road (FMR) and Eight (8) bridges in Brgy. Rayuray, Batac City, Ilocos Norte on December 9, 2020.
The FMR is the longest and largest completed infrastructure subproject, in terms of length and cost, in Ilocos Region under the Philippine Rural Development Project. Its FMR measures 12 kilometers and its eight bridges have a total length of 79 linear meters. With a total project cost of Php188,370, 942.48, the FMR-bridge is benefitting more than 6,000 residents and farmers.
The infrastructure is the very first proposal of the Province of Ilocos Norte under the PRDP. It aims to support and revitalize the marketing of agricultural commodities in the area, particularly mango.
The FMR-bridge is the entry and exit point of commuters from the interior barangays of Nagbacalan, Baoa West, and Camandingan, Batac City.
Likewise, Barangay San Juan connects Batac City to the Municipality of Sarrat and is the preferred route for traders and farmers in transporting their agricultural products to the market. Now that the FMR-bridge is rehabilitated, farmers are provided with greater access to transporting their agricultural goods from the production area to the market.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Batac City Mayor Albert Chua, Provincial Agriculturist Norma Lagmay, Governor Matthew Manotoc’s Chief of Staff, Atty. Pancho Jose, and PRDP Deputy Project Director Jovita Datuin.
The completed FMR-Bridge will be subjected to the regional operations and maintenance audit to assess the immediate impacts of the infrastructure project. #
