LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Because of the need to lessen the transportation cost of vegetables from the farms to the market, the national government earmarked at least P380 million for the rehabilitation, upgrading and improvement of four major secondary national arterial roads in this vegetable-producing province next year.

The continuous allocation of substantial funding support to major roadlines in the province is an offshoot of the desire of the national and local governments to provide easy access for the agricultural crops in order to fast-track the development of the lucrative local vegetable industry.

Benguet Rep. Samuel M. Dangwa said that out of the allocated amount, at least R130 million each will be programmed for the rehabilitation of the Tublay-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun road and the Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias road, while P60 million each was already set aside for the improvement of the Itogon-Dalupirip-San Manuel, Pangasinan road and the Baguio City limit-Mount Sto. Tomas road.

Even if Benguet was not a recipient of foreign-assisted projects this year, the lawmaker claimed all efforts have been exerted by provincial and municipal officials to seek funding support for the rehabilitation of other major roads which serve as farm-to-market roads in order to ensure the continuous transport of agricultural crops from the farms to the markets, especially during times of calamities.

If the Tublay-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Buguias road and the Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias road will be fully rehabilitated through the continuous allocation of sufficient funds, Dangwa pointed out they will serve as alternative access routes for motorists and vegetable farmers when Halsema Highway, the major road link to the interior parts of the Cordillera, will be closed to vehicular traffic during the onslaught of typhoons due to landslides.