DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY OF THE PHILIPPINES CONFERENCE CENTER, TAGAYTAY CITY, CAVITE—As part of efforts to enhance the agricultural sector, DILG IV-A participated in the “Workshop on the Localization of the Provincial Farm-to-Market Roads Network Plan (FMRNP)” for Cavite and Batangas, held on September 17-19, 2024.

This initiative aligns with Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 1, Series of 2023, titled “Formulation, Implementation, and Updating of the National Network of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs).” Led by the Department of Agriculture, and in collaboration with various government agencies, including the DILG, DOT, DAR, DTI, DOST, DICT, and DPWH, this initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to establish a National Network of FMRs. The plan aims to uplift the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk while enhancing food security and driving economic growth.

The three-day workshop was attended by Local Chief Executives and representatives from the involved agencies, as well as Agricultural and Local Planning and Development Offices from 56 Local Government Units (LGU) across Cavite and Batangas. Key discussions included a lecture on Infrastructure Governance in Local Road Projects by DILG IV-A’s Project Development Monitoring Unit (PDMU) Chief John Joseph Vasquez, introduction of the Geographic Information Systems for Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Infrastructure (GEOAGRI) Map, a system designed to streamline data collection and digitize FMRs from each LGU.

The DILG IV-A shall assist in streamlining the LGUs’ submission of FMR Plans from the municipal to the provincial level.

DILG IV-A Assistant Regional Director Darrell I. Dizon, CESO V, expressed the department’s support in this initiative, and signed the commitment wall along with the LCEs and the abovementioned representatives of the national government agencies involved. Following the signing, LGUs presented their FMR Profiling Systems and the encoded data outputs over the workshop period.