General Santos City, Philippines – The Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 12 recently participated in a three-day workshop aimed at localizing the National Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) Network Plan for 2023-2028. The workshop, organized by the Department of Agriculture, took place from August 13-15, 2024, at the Greenleaf Hotel in General Santos City.

The event brought together representatives from all Local Government Units (LGUs) across the four provinces of Region 12, including Municipal and Provincial Engineers, Planning Officers, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (ABEs). The goal was to equip LGUs with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively plan and monitor their infrastructure projects, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Day one of the workshop served as a refresher course, featuring comprehensive presentations and discussions on the current status of the GeoAgri System—a Geographic Information System (GIS) for Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Infrastructure. Participants engaged in hands-on activities, with several LGUs demonstrating how to encode their proposed FMRs into the GeoAgri system.

On the second day, Engr. Herminia S. Ontoy led an in-depth discussion on Infrastructure Governance in Local Development Projects. The session was followed by activities where participants updated and built data for network maps, ensuring accuracy in the planning and budgeting of FMRs.

The third day was marked by the participation of Local Chief Executives, who shared their insights on the initiative, expressed their gratitude, and signed a commitment wall to show their support for the project.

The workshop underscored the importance of accurately encoding the locations, lengths, and proposed budgets for FMRs into the GeoAgri system. This interactive web mapping application allows LGUs to effectively plan and monitor their infrastructure developments, contributing to more efficient and sustainable rural development.

This initiative is seen as a significant step towards strengthening infrastructure governance at the local level, enhancing agricultural productivity, and supporting the broader goal of rural development in Region 12. Through collaboration and commitment, the DILG, in partnership with allied agencies and LGUs, continues to build more accessible and sustainable communities.