DA eyes computerized map of farm-to-market roads by yearend

FILE: DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (Photo: Department of Agriculture/ Facebook)

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will carry out a new program to help the government identify Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) in the country through computers.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol shared this with mayors in Western Visayas during the distribution of PHP75.1 million worth of farm equipment at the Western Visayas Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC) in Hamungaya, Jaro District here Friday afternoon.

“We have to come up with a computer-generated map.

We really have to modernize everything. Unless we do that, we will be groping in the dark,” he said.

The map will show FMRs that are completed, those that are being constructed, or those that have yet to be built.

The program for computerized map, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will be done in coordination with other government agencies.

During the meeting, Piñol assured mayors that FMRs all over the country will be completed before President Rodrigo Duterte ends his term.

Piñol visited Iloilo for the sixth time to deliver his commitments to farmers’ groups in this part of the country.

Aside from the farm machinery, he also distributed hybrid and certified seeds, fertilizers and loan assistance to farmers of Miagao, Iloilo, who are growing onion and garlic, and of Hamtic, Antique.

In his message, he underscored that DA extends three kinds of assistance to farmers — technology, financing and marketing. (PNA)