DATU BLAH T. SINSUAT, Maguindanao – The Municipal Government of Datu Blah T.
Sinsuat (DBS) has partnered with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) for
the construction of access roads that will aid in the convenient and timely transport
of goods to and from the town.
The second class municipality inked a P90-million loan agreement with LANDBANK
on 9 February 2022 to purchase various heavy equipment, meant to enhance the
town’s delivery of general basic services and fast-track the implementation of
strategic farm-to-market road projects.
“LANDBANK fully supports initiatives that promote the growth and development of
local agricultural producers. We are one with local government partners in providing
more convenient access to local markets and other government services, in line with
building stronger and more resilient local economies,” said LANDBANK President and
CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
The P90-million LANDBANK loan will finance the construction of additional road
networks in the municipality, designed to reduce the transportation costs of farmers
and fishers for their produce, which will result to higher incomes.
The road projects will allow fishers from the remote coastal barangays to supply fish
to Cotabato City, Maguindanao Province, several bordering towns in Lanao del
Norte, as well as the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. To
date, five (5) out of the 13 barangays of Datu Blah T. Sinsuat have no established
roads and are accessible only by boat.
The additional roads will benefit a total of 4,946 farmers; 2,701 fishers; and 389
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) residing in the area.
“With LANDBANK’s assurance of financial and technical support to our priority
projects for small farmers and fishers, we are optimistic that the Datu Blah T.
Sinsuat Municipality will reach its goal of becoming the fishing capital of Central
Mindanao in the future,” said Datu Blah T. Sinsuat Mayor Marshall I. Sinsuat.
The Municipality also anticipates that the new roads will encourage the influx of
investors and potential tourists to stimulate more economic activity, significantly
improving the locality's trading system and tourism industry, and creating more job
opportunities.
LANDBANK continues to extend necessary credit assistance to local government
units (LGUs) to spur recovery and inclusive economic development in the
countryside. As of end-January 2022, LANDBANK has extended P69.51 billion in
outstanding loans to LGUs nationwide.
