LAMITAN CITY — Local officials here broke ground Monday on a P110-million farm-to-market road in a remote village here, a project aimed at linking isolated farming communities to the city’s economic center.

The 4.3-kilometer road in Barangay Ubit will connect Sitio Tinog to Sitio Sapah Linsungan. Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay said the project is a cornerstone of the city’s development agenda to reduce poverty in the outskirts of the Basilan province capital.

“This road is more than concrete and gravel; it is a lifeline for our farmers and a bridge to opportunities,” Furigay said during the ceremony. “By connecting our sitios to the city’s economic hubs, we empower communities and ensure no one is left behind.”

The project is a joint venture funded by the World Bank, the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project, and the Lamitan City government.

It receives technical support from the Bangsamoro region’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform.

Engineers designed the road to be climate-resilient, using durable paving intended to withstand the challenging terrain and heavy rainfall typical of the region. Officials expect the completed road to significantly reduce travel times for residents seeking access to healthcare, schools and markets.

Hanie Muadz Junuban, a director at the Bangsamoro agriculture ministry, said the infrastructure serves as a catalyst for food security and regional stability by strengthening the agricultural backbone of Basilan.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to bridge the urban-rural divide in the autonomous region, where infrastructure gaps often hinder agricultural productivity.