DAR fastracks P175M CARP Kalinga infrastructure projects

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is fast tracking the implementation of Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Projects Phase II (ARISP II) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the province.

Edano Canao, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer said implementation of ARISP II projects  particularly  three 3 farm-to-market roads, four  communal irrigation systems, and one  bridge with total project cost of P175 million,  are now being fasttracked before DAR ends the CARP program  in 2014.

He said the Kalinga District Engineering Office (KDEO) in-charge to implement DAR’s infrastructure projects bided out last week  two  farm-to-market roads (FMR) in Pasil and Rizal  with total project cost of P60 million.

“The concreting of the 4.10 kilometer Cagaluan FMR in Pasil worth P26 million and the 7.10 kilometer, P34 million Macutay FMR  in Rizal were bided out by the Department of Public Works and Highways last week,” Canao said.  Included in the recent bidding is the construction of the P14M Molayongbridge in Pasil.

Kalinga District Engineer Alexander Castaneda assured that construction will commence this November as soon as the winning bidder is proclaimed and that all requirements are in order.

He said the P34 million 16-kilometer Bugnay FMR in Tinglayan will be next scheduled for bidding. “These are long overdue projects planned and approved during the past administration,” Castaneda said adding “we are trying to implement them before CARP terminates.”

Ongoing communal irrigation projects are the P30 million Bunog-Matoc CIS in Tinglayan; the P13 million Balinciagao CIS in Pasil.

“Two other communal irrigation projects, the proposed P19M Pangol CIS and the P5M Bulo CIS in Rizal are undergoing review,” Canao said.