Gallego, Lloyd Andrew V. P299C - H. S. Lidasan, Ph.D.

DURP 2017-90729 December 12, 2018

Individual Research Proposal

Research Theme

Impact of Massive Road Construction to Agriculture: The Case of Nueva Ecija

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale

The Philippine government has been thriving to continuously improve the road
network in the Philippines for better connectivity, accessibility and mobility. In 2016,
the Philippines marked its Golden Age of Infrastructure thru the "Build, Build, Build
Program" under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte. According to inquirer.net, “The
build, build, build program seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending and develop
industries that will yield robust growth, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos."
While the intention of this program is highly commended, it has affected the rural
development areas which shows great impact to crop production.

The impact of massive road constructions for connectivity of the regions will
greatly improve economic development in the Philippines. These roads are beneficial
to transport crops from the sourcing farms to its distribution channels. These roads
are classified as farm-to-market roads wherein the primary focus is ease of transport
of farm produce to consumers. Most crops are planted in vast agricultural area that
can sustain and provide food security for a specific region. In example, Nueva Ecija is
known as the rice capital of the Philippines producing over __ metric tons of rice per
year. In order to deliver the production of rice across all region of the Philippines and
for export to other countries, road network facilities play a very important role on
transfers of these goods.

On another note, the construction of new roads for network improvement and
connectivity can also have adverse effects specially to crop production. Food security
is an issue that cannot be compromised since food are essential needs of human
being in their daily lives. Most constructed roads do not include design for irrigation,
hence provision of water supply to these crops are at stake. Also, since there is no
proper irrigation and drainage as not being part of the greater road network
improvement, environmental hazards can be experienced by agricultural lands near
the roads.

The study seeks to find solution on how to harmonize road construction with
the agricultural sector. It is intended to negate the adverse impact of road construction
to crop production for food security. The proper allocation of budget for road
infrastructure is under the government and other loans from institutions. Hence, the
masterplan of road network improvement must be aligned with agricultural premises
without affecting supply of food from crops. High regard to the policies that be
established to ensure the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure and
agricultural sector.

1.2 Significance of the Study

The study is intended to take part in contribution of national development in

terms of correlating road construction to agricultural sector. Furthermore, the study is
intended to contribute to the following sectors:

(1) Economic: The study is suited to improve economic development by

assessing the construction of new roads and determine why it affects crop
production. The study will widen the perspective on how financial institutions
consider providing funding due to the importance of agriculture for transport
and food security purposes. This will also benefit the realization of enhancing
GDP of the Philippines as agriculture is one of the primary economic activities
in the country.

(2) Institutional: The study will help the institution in to further analyzing what need
to be improved and help them craft stringent policies that help in balancing the
infrastructure and agricultural sector development.

(3) Technical: The study will become a model or guide for planners dealing
infrastructure and agricultural sector which can be used for planning purposes
in other regions. The alignment of planning practice from these sectors will
enhance understanding based on land classification and proposed
 development with regards to regions that are highly depended on agriculture
for their development goals.

(4) Academic: This study will be used by other researchers who intends to
improve understanding on correlation on planning and agricultural sector. This
study can be further developed and fit to a new social problem that needs to
be addressed through the academic institutions.

1.3 Problem Statements

The study primarily wants to resolve certain issues on food securities brought
about by massive road construction that affects crop plantation in Central Luzon
particularly in Nueva Ecija. The research would want to baseline factors affecting
agricultural sector in producing more goods and have a good recommendation to
prevent putting these crop productions at stake from implementation of various road
infrastructure projects. The following questions would be the focus in determining
solution to the phenomenon:

a. What are the positive and negative implications of road network improvement
in relation to impact against plantation and crop production?

b. What are the factors that affect the co-existence of farm-to-market roads and
plant plantation in terms of (1) financial/budget appropriation and (2) political
concerns?

c. What are the current policies regarding construction of roads near agricultural
areas that is needed to be improved?

d. How will the infrastructure and agricultural sector be properly aligned for better
regional development in Central Luzon particularly in Nueva Ecija?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The objective of the study is to assess the current condition of the crop
production with respect to massive road construction and provide recommendation for
better harmonization between infrastructure and agricultural sector in Nueva Ecija.
Furthermore, the specific objectives of the study are as follows:

 to improve conditions of crops affected by road construction;

 to determine specific road infrastructure problems affecting the agricultural
lands of Nueva Ecija;
 to widen technologies in addressing factors affecting agricultural deficit from
road construction; and
 to enhance policies and laws that will address the current scenario.

1.5 Limitations of the Study

The study focuses only to dealing agricultural problems based on impact of

road construction in relation to farm produce. The study area will be limited to Nueva
Ecija and roads which will be considered are those adjacent to agricultural lands. This
include all roads that are surrounded by mass agricultural land area on both sides. All
classified roads may be National, Local, Barangay or Private roads that may have a
positive or negative impact to the plantation in the area. Identified roads will be drawn
on maps using ArcGIS and all technologies will be limited to the said software.

For the agricultural sector, agricultural crop plantation focuses only on food
produce or those plant that are vital in food security. Crop plantation are limited to the
following: root crops, rice and grains, vines, shrubs and other fruit bearing trees (those
planted in lands with land-use classified as agricultural). With this, the study shall
focus on impact of road construction to affected food resources from agricultural
lands.

Several techniques for assessment may be limited as well but the research
should impose parameter within acceptable level of risk to obtain soundness of the
expected result of the study.
2. Review of Literature

2.1 Nueva Ecija as Central Luzon’s Food Bowl and Rice Granary

Nueva Ecija is dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” because of

its endless farms dedicated in producing rice. Aside from rich plantation of rice, the
province of Nueva Ecija is rich with other agricultural/farming produce such as yellow
corn, calamansi, super peanut, papaya, mango, ampalaya, eggplant, string beans,
tomato, onion, garlic, guava and other root crops to name among the few which made
the province to be known as Central Luzon’s Food Bowl. Most of the country’s rice
and crop produce are coming from the province of Nueva Ecija which delivers the
most chunk of Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in terms of agriculture. As
the rice capital of the Philippines and home to best vegetable harvest, Nueva Ecija is
home to greatest agriculturist in the country. This led the nation to establish a school
for agriculture which is the Central Luzon State University where agricultural
practitioners get to divulge new technologies in agriculture thru research and
development. The current problem sticks to the affecting activities in farming crops
which are caused by man-made calamities and force majeure. Relative to these
phenomenon is the impact of the road construction to affect water provision in
agricultural lots due to the absence of proper irrigation and drainage. This put some
portions of agricultural lots within the Nueva Ecija at stake thereby affecting produce
from farm activities.

2.2 Nueva Ecija, Road Network Improvement and the Build, Build, Build
Program
 The ‘Build, Build, Build’ (BBB) Program of the Duterte administration is
anchored to the increase socio-economic development anchored by growth.
The program is intended to upgrade the country’s infrastructure to provide
interconnectivity between people and communities, create more jobs, and
strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained inclusive growth. The
BBB program holds the most ambitious investment program of the
government amounting to a total of 3 trillion worth of budget for infrastructure
development. In Nueva Ecija, the biggest project that will impact the area is
the proposed Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) which will link Tarlac
City to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The project cost is estimated to be at
14.936 million and the government is looking at January 2020 for the
earliest possible completion of the project. The four-lane, 30-km
expressway starts from the SCTEX-TPLEX connection in Balincanaway,
Tarlac City to Caalibangbangan in Cabanatuan City. Some 11,200 motorists
will benefit daily from this new road.

Benefits of the Central Luzon Link Expressway:

 Shorter travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 1 hour and
10 minutes to just 20 minutes

 Reduced traffic congestion on the Pan-Philippine Highway (Daang Maharlika)

by 48%

 Help decongest Metro Manila by promoting the growth of Tarlac and

Cabanatuan

 Quicker access to Cabanatuan City from Metro Manila

Aside from this, other LGU initiated road network improvement projects are
being undertaken to improve accessibility and mobility of inner farms to market roads.
This provides opportunities in transporting their products to the potential market.
Absence of these roads impact delivery to the market. However, when massive road
constructions bombard to a specific area due to absence of schedule planning and
inter-coordination among road infra agencies or institution, the latter will have greater
impact on areas like Nueva Ecija and may affect outcomes of their agricultural
produce.
2.3 Related Studies: Influence of Road Condition of Road Transport
Infrastructure on Rural Agricultural Development in the Jaman South Distict

Based from author Stephen Yeboah (2015), this study was designed to assess
the influence of road transportation infrastructure on rural agricultural development in
the Jaman South District of the Republic of Ghana. The cross-section survey research
design was adopted in this research work. Purposive sampling was used to select 30
rural communities while questionnaires and structured interview schedule were used
to collect data from 387 farmer households and 84 drivers by means of simple
probability sampling technique. Data collection was based on both primary and
secondary sources. Descriptive statistics technique such as percentages,
frequencies, means and chi square was used to highlight the socio-economic
characteristics of the farmers in the study area. The SPSS package was used to
analyze data.

Yeboah (2015) concluded that the study established that less than 45%
of the road network in the district was properly engineered and classified to be
good. It was found out that, the average farm distance from the community to
the main road or nearest market was approximately 2500m out of which
approximately 1,375m was in bad shape. Most of the road networks linking the
various communities to the main market were unpaved and impossible to be
utilized during the rainy season. Farming in the district was characterized by
farmers who owned small portions of farm size and used rudimentary methods
of agriculture. The study revealed that, the type of road connecting the
communities to the market had a significant relationship with the estimated
travel time to Drobo, cost of transportation, where farmers sold their farm
produce, choice of crops, the use of fertilizers, willingness of the farmers to
diversify their farms and accessibility of labor. It did not however find a
statistically significant influence of road transport infrastructure on farm size of
the farmers in Jaman South District. The study recommended the
development and expansion of road infrastructure in Jaman South District
making use of local resources and technology to boost agricultural
development which will further augment farmers‟ income and general well-
being.

2.4 Related Studies: Impact of Road Transport on Agricultural Development: A

Nigerian Example
 Road transport and agriculture are correlated to each other. Road transport is
a vital component in order to deliver crop production to the consumers and various
urban communities. In this study, the descriptive and statistical methods were used to
analyze both the positive and negative impact of road transport to agriculture. Key
finding of the study is that the bad condition of road network affects the cost of
transport of agricultural produce which have impact to the rural farmers’ income. The
study concluded that improvement of road network will lead to increase production of
farmers and recommended to encourage participation of community when performing
road transport development. (Tunde and Adeneyi, 2012)

2.5 GIS as a tool in Agricultural vs. Transport Based Research

The use of GIS as an application tool has been very useful due to the
realization of maps into the study matter. The GIS tool will help in the spatial cognitive
understanding of maps when agriculture is related to transportation. Overlay features
will better provide ease of familiarity and a sense of boundary. Overlay maps
especially help investigate the increasing number of scientific developments and
organizations that do not fit within traditional disciplinary categories.

3.0 Theoretical Framework

 In the course of the proposed study, the study would want to performance of
reconnaissance of the area by identifying which agricultural lands have been affected
by massive construction of roads. Since there is road involve, the research would
assess what are the problems identified that affect the crop plantation. This will be
done through conduct of road inventory to analyze whether there are existing
provisions of irrigation or drainage. Also, since the research intents to analyze the
scenario, a collective information on the agricultural land will be identified as well and
have this mapped through ArcGIS.

It is also important to check other information that do not directly impact

problems of agriculture in irrigation so checking of the road network masterplan and
intervention of LGU and other financial institution in the construction of the road will
also be identified.

Through the use of GIS, the roads and agricultural lands will be overlayed
together to form an analysis map. From the map the study will focus on creating a
heatmap of which lands are harshly affected by road construction. After such, the
conduct of surveys and interview will be conducted on the identified critical points in
the map overlay.
 For the analysis, several techniques will be used such as disaggregate
method and multiple linear regression. Also, risk analysis per critical road segment will
be identified to recommend ways on how to alleviate current problems on irrigation.
From the risk analysis, the study would want to give prioritization of which area
needed immediate rectification to ensure that food crops are continuously farmed
from these identified agricultural lands.

4.0 Expected Outputs and Contributions to Research and Planning

The expected output of this research is the identification of baseline activities that
affect agricultural activities from road construction. From this, the study will draft a risk
analysis and identify all risks that impact the agricultural land. Heatmaps will be
provided through GIS to identify critical sections. Also, from the risk analysis, the
study will identify which area needed immediate attention to resolve problems on
irrigation and help finance institutions who are responsible in ensuring food security
from farm produce to allocate enough budget on the flagged critical areas.

The contribution of this research to planning is on the harmonization of road

transport and agriculture. The symbiotic relationship between agriculture and
transport should be realized in order to achieve development without adverse effect
on both sectors.

5.0 Time Frame of the Research (and Budget Requirements)

TIMELINE
PROPOSED
ACTIVITIES 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH 7TH
MONTH MONTH MONTH MONTH MONTH MONTH MONTH
1. Writing Research
proposal
Review of Related
literature
Identification of Social
Problem
Formulation of
Research Problem
Conceptualization of
Research Objectives
Drafting Research
strategy and
methodologies
Presenting Research
Proposal to Adviser
Reconnaisance and
Courtesy Meeting to
Nueva Ecija LGU and
Road Inventory
Interviews and
Surveys
Map Overlay (GIS)
Risk Analysis
Identification of Priority
Irrigation Points
Drafting of remaining
chapters of Research
Proposal
Submitting draft to the
adviser
Update and Revisions
with Research paper

Submitting draft to the

adviser and committee
members for critique
and await feedback
Oral defense / Thesis
presentation
Submitting final
manuscript

6.0 References

1. Archives on Inquirer.net - Understanding the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program

issued December 12, 2018
2. Build. Build. Build Program Website by DPWH, DOTR, BCDA
3. Philippine Information Agency retrieved from
https://pia.gov.ph/provinces/nueva-ecija
4. A.M. Tunde and A.M Adeneyi (2012). Impact of Road Transport Impact of
Road Transport on Agricultural: Nigerian Example. Ethiopian Journal of
Environmental Studies and Management EJESM Vol. 5 No. 3 2012
5. I. Rafols, A. Porter and L. Leydersoff (2010). Science Overlay Maps: A New
Tool for Research Policy and Library Management. Journal of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology 61
6. A. Bradbury, J. Hine, P. Njenga, A. Otto, G. Muhia, S Willilo (2017). Evaluation
of the Effect of Road Condition on the Quality of Agricultural Produce. Africa
Community Access Partnership
7. Bruce Blanton (2017). The Importance of Transportation to Agriculture.
Presentation on Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program