IMELDA, Zamboanga Sibugay — A nearly ₱10-million government-funded road project is poised to reshape how farmers in Barangay Gandiangan bring their products to markets, as the municipality moves forward with the construction of a new farm-to-market road.
Funded through the FY 2026 Local Government Support Fund–Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP), the project carries a total allocation of ₱9.989 million and will cover an 810-meter road in Barangay Gandiangan.
The project officially moved forward following a recent groundbreaking ceremony attended by officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX, DILG Zamboanga Sibugay, the Municipality of Imelda, and barangay officials.
From farm roads to market opportunities
For farmers, the importance of the project goes beyond concrete and construction.
The new road is expected to make the movement of agricultural products easier and more reliable, potentially reducing the time and expense involved in transporting produce from farms to buyers and markets.
It is also expected to improve residents’ access to basic services and provide a safer route for people, goods and essential services in and around Gandiangan.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) lists the Gandiangan project under Region IX’s FY 2026 LGSF allocations as a ₱10-million concreting of a farm-to-market road, consistent with the project reported by the Philippine Information Agency.
Why the road matters
Farm-to-market roads are designed to address one of the recurring challenges faced by agricultural communities: getting farm products efficiently from production areas to consumers and commercial centers.
Better connectivity can help farmers reach buyers more efficiently while giving rural communities greater access to markets, government services and other economic opportunities.
The project is therefore expected to serve not only Gandiangan but also nearby communities that depend on the road network for transportation and commerce.
Government oversight
The road is being implemented with support and oversight from DILG to help ensure that the project follows prescribed standards and implementation requirements.
DILG Region IX Regional Director Pablio L. Benitez Jr., DILG Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Director Oliver B. Ombos, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Judilloid S. Ovalo, and personnel from the Regional and Provincial Project Development and Management Units attended the groundbreaking.
Imelda Mayor Arnoldo L. Famor, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Evelyn Delfin also participated in the ceremony.
The project’s implementation also fits into a broader pattern of LGSF-SBDP infrastructure investments in Zamboanga Peninsula. DILG Region IX has documented inspections and implementation monitoring of LGSF-SBDP projects in other municipalities, emphasizing compliance with approved plans, specifications and implementation standards.
What comes next?
Once completed, the 810-meter Gandiangan farm-to-market road is expected to become a critical link between production areas and markets, helping turn improved physical access into more efficient agricultural trade and broader livelihood opportunities.
For residents, however, the real test will come after construction: whether the new road can translate government infrastructure spending into lower transport costs, faster market access and better economic opportunities for the farming community.
The project represents a relatively small infrastructure investment on a national scale—but for the farmers who depend on reliable roads to move their products, its impact could be much larger.
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