CONCEPCION, Tarlac — Agricultural connectivity in this municipality is set to receive a major boost following a ₱71.5-million agreement to construct four new Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects spanning 5.43 kilometers.
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III (DA-RFO III) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Tarlac 2nd District Engineering Office formally inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on September 10 in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The pact was signed by DA-RFO III Regional Executive Director Dr. Eduardo Lapuz Jr. and DPWH Tarlac 2nd District Engineer Edward Ricardo Ramos. Funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) FY 2026, the four concrete road networks aim to streamline the transport of produce and lower logistics costs for local farmers.
Project Breakdown and Funding Allocation
The total budget of ₱71,519,473.70 covers the concreting of four key agricultural corridors in Concepcion:
– Brgy. Santiago FMR: 1.506 km — ₱21.894 million
– Brgy. Castillo FMR: 1.555 km — ₱19.85 million
– Brgy. Balutu FMR: 1.161 km — ₱14.887 million
– Brgy. Balutu–Brgy. Panalicsican FMR: 1.212 km — ₱14.887 million
Agency Responsibilities and Project Timeline
Under the agreement, joint revalidation and geotagging of the approved FMR sites will precede construction to ensure strict compliance with DA technical standards.
DA-RFO III will handle technical reviews, field coordination, and monitoring of both physical and financial progress. Meanwhile, the DPWH Tarlac 2nd DEO will manage the procurement process, contract awards, quality control, and direct construction supervision.
Upon completion, both agencies will conduct a final joint inspection before turning over the roads to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Concepcion, which will take full responsibility for ongoing operations and maintenance.
High-level officials attended the signing ceremony, including Undersecretary for Agro-Marine Industrial Systems Arrey Perez, Assistant Secretary Engr. Eduardo Destura, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering OIC-Director Engr. Noemi Carpio, and DA-RFO III Regional Technical Director Dr. Arthur Dayrit.
Once completed, these pave-over infrastructure improvements are expected to significantly transform Concepcion’s agricultural supply chain by preventing post-harvest losses, enhancing market access, and providing long-term economic relief to hundreds of local farming households across the covered barangays.
