New Banaue road done; boosts towns economy

By Elvy T. Estacio

BANAUE, Ifugao -- A newly opened farm-to-market road in this tourist town is now 100% complete and projected to boost income of farmers in far barangays.
    Implemented under the Dept. of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project with the Banaue local government, the Anaba-Ducligan-Banao FMR, which spans eight kilometers with a 20-meter bridge, was earlier proposed to improved lives of folks of barangays Anaba, Ducligan, and Banao.
    For many years, residents of these barangays have been trekking to and from their farms/houses, as there was zero road access connecting barangays, especially Banao.
    Nelson Dogwe, a farmer from Barangay Ducligan, is tilling a land near the FMR subproject and according to him, the opening of the road has brought a lot of benefits to Ducligan residents who own agricultural lands along the area.
    Muddy trails and rice field dikes served as pathways for farmers and residents to reach the nearest access road, the Banaue-Mayoyao-Aguinaldo National Road, and because of the road construction, they can now travel to and from their houses or farms safely and in less time.
    Elizabeth Dulnuan, another farmer beneficiary from Anaba, said the road construction made them closer to the market in Banaue, which is a safer and faster route, as compared to muddy trails and dikes that they used to trek.
    “We were motivated to cultivate our lands when the road construction started and especially now that the road is completed where we can reach the center market area in less than 30 minutes,” added Dulnuan.
    Completed last April 25, the P245.64 million FMR is now benefiting more than adjacent 275 households.
    A final inspection was conducted last May 11 by a joint team of representatives from the national, north Luzon cluster and regional levels of the DA-PRDP with representatives from Alfalfa Construction and from the municipal project management and implementing unit of Banaue.
    Though the project was declared as 100% physically completed, the contractor still needs to rectify defects identified during final inspection prior to turnover.
    Banaue municipal engineer Antonio Gayumma said a turn over ceremony is set on June 15.
    Meanwhile, construction of more slope protection structures and guard rails, including additional warning signs among other side structures and maintenance work, will be included in the LGU’s operations and maintenance plan for the FMR.