The "Pang-Agraryong Tulay Para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka" (PBBM) Bridges Project is an initiative by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) designed to improve connectivity and access for agrarian reform communities (ARCs) throughout the Philippines. With an allocated budget of approximately ₱28.243 billion, the project aims to construct around 350 modular steel bridges, totaling about 10,500 linear meters in length.
Key
Objectives of the PBBM Bridges Project: (1) Improve Mobility - facilitate
easier and more efficient transportation for farmers and residents within ARCs;
(2) Enhance Market Access - provide farmers with better access to markets,
thereby reducing logistics costs and increasing income opportunities; (3) Boost
Productivity - by improving infrastructure, the project aims to increase the
productivity and income of at least 350,000 households; and (4) Access to
Social Services - ensure that communities have better access to essential
social services such as healthcare and education.
As
of November 2023, DAR has identified and validated 354 potential sites for
these bridges, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of
Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (DA-BAFE), the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH), and local government units.
This
project aligns with the socio-economic agenda of the Marcos Jr. administration,
as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028, aiming to promote
countryside development and improve the quality of life for those in the
agricultural sector.
In
Cagayan province, the DAR Provincial Office has submitted and validated at least five
(5) proposed PBBM bridges located with the agrarian reform communities. Overall,
the PBBM Bridges Project is a strategic effort to strengthen the agricultural
infrastructure of the Philippines, ensuring that agrarian communities are
better connected and more economically resilient.
DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III expressed his gratitude for the NEDA Board's approval and assured that the project is set for completion in 2026. The Department of Agrarian Reform – Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (DAR FASPO) will lead the initiative. He further emphasized that the PBBM Bridges Project will be executed with precision, supporting rural development and contributing to a "matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay" for all Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).
