The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Caraga has received the green light for a PHP353-million farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
The DA Central Office issued No Objection Letter (NOL) 1, which was formally handed over by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday to DA-13 Regional Director Arlan Mangelen and Tagbina Mayor Glaiza Jane Lanete.
“This FMR will provide wider access and connectivity to coffee farmers and enterprises in Tagbina by addressing the constraints in the marketing and transporting of their green coffee beans,” DA-13 said in a statement.
The 15.4-kilometer project, titled Concreting of Malixi to Sitio Pamintigan, Hinagdanan FMR, is expected to benefit 2,787 households or around 11,148 individuals. It will also support the San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO), a local coffee enterprise backed by the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).
With NOL 1 issued, the procurement process will soon follow under the supervision of the local government unit of Tagbina. In the coming months, activities will include the signing of the Implementation Management Agreement, release of the Certificate of Availability of Funds, issuance of NOL 2, awarding of the contract, and Notice to Proceed.
The project will be funded through the DA’s PRDP Scale-Up program.