Major expansion of agri-business eyed in South Cotabato

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 28 (PNA) – The national government has allocated some P460 million to facilitate the expansion of agribusiness production areas in South Cotabato and the neighboring areas.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said the allocation would be utilized to fund the development of new farm-to-market roads and bridges that will eventually help connect various agribusiness areas in the province's 10 towns and lone city.

She said the projects, which were among those earlier endorsed for funding by the provincial development council, were included in the priority rural infrastructure initiatives of the national government's flagship Mindanao Super Regions Project and the President's Bridge Program.

Under the Mindanao Super Regions Project, which mainly focuses on the development of agribusiness areas in the island, Fuentes said at least 306 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth P436.90 million will be developed in the province.

She said the farm-to-market road projects, which will be managed by the Department of Agriculture, will cover prime agricultural areas in the municipalities of Tupi, Banga, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, T'boli, Polomolok, Tantangan, Norala, Surallah, Sto. Nino and Koronadal City.

In Koronadal, the governor said they expect the construction to begin soon for at least 17.6 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

“These projects are very vital for our agribusiness production as they will help link up our production areas to the markets,” she said.

Under the President's Bridge Program's “Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo” component, Fuentes said the province was allotted at least two bridge projects worth P12 million each.

She said the ground works will soon begin for the construction of the Gabang Bridge in T'boli town and the Lamlaan Bridge in Polomolok town.

The projects, which are under the infrastructure support component of the Department of Agrarian Reform, are located in agrarian reform communities in the area.

The two bridges, which will be made up of at least 30 lineal meters of steel structure, are the initial projects approved for funding by the President's Bridge Program out of the 16 proposed projects earlier submitted by the local government.

The governor said the Gabang Bridge will connect the town proper or Poblacion of T'boli with Barangays New Dumangas, Laconon and Salacafe.