IRDF Endorses Crucial Farm-to-Market Road Project in Arakan, North Cotabato
Arakan, North Cotabato – July 4, 2025 – The Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF), through its Provincial Sectoral Representative to the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCOMM-North Cotabato), Ms. Flor Sojon, has played a pivotal role in securing the endorsement of a vital ₱98 million Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) project in the remote Lanao Kuran area of Arakan, North Cotabato. This project, spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), represents a significant investment in the region’s infrastructure.
The FMR will directly benefit approximately 1,016 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) residing in Lanao Kuran, a community encompassing roughly 1,500 ARBs across 6,000 hectares under a collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA). The project will involve the concreting of roads across two sitios.
A rigorous validation process, conducted on July 4th, 2025, at Lanao Kuran, involved a comprehensive review of road network maps, an assessment of the Program of Works (POW) for each FMR segment, and detailed on-site documentation using geotagged photographs. This process revealed a substantial 300-hectare cacao plantation within the project area, further underscoring the region’s agricultural potential. The planned 6.9-kilometer access road will connect Lanao Kuran to Calinan, Davao City.
The project’s critical importance lies in its potential to alleviate the severe transportation challenges currently faced by Lanao Kuran residents due to poor road conditions. This improved infrastructure is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity, facilitate access to markets and essential services, and stimulate overall economic growth within the community.
Following the successful validation, Ms. Sojon, representing IRDF within PARCOMM, formally endorsed the project and submitted a resolution of support to the DAR Central Office. This decisive action by IRDF demonstrates its commitment to improving the lives and livelihoods of the ARBs in Lanao Kuran. This project represents a significant step towards a brighter future for the community.
