DA Sec leads groundbreaking of P365.89M road project in Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony of the 6.51-kilometer NRJ Trinidad-Mabini farm-to-market road (FMR), including bridges, transforming the agricultural landscape in Surigao City.
Funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up, in partnership with the World Bank and the city government of Surigao, the P365.89 million investment is designed to slash transportation costs and minimize post-harvest losses for local farmers.
The FMR will feature three bridges namely, the Togonan, Lower Sangay, and Anomar that will connect the five barangays of Anomar, Mabini, Mat-i, Sukailang, and Trinidad. It will also serve as a vital connection to five barangays in the municipality of Sison in Surigao del Norte such as Ima, Mabuhay, San Isidro, San Pablo, and San Pedro.
Through this project, the transportation of agricultural products is expected to become faster and safer. An estimated 5,603 farmers and 2,844 families will benefit from the FMR, gaining better access to markets, services, and other economic opportunities.
Secretary Laurel emphasized that over the next year and a half, the DA will strictly monitor the project’s implementation from construction to full completion and turnover.
“The DA ensures that this project will be realized according to set standards, with quality, integrity, and long-term benefits. This is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure government programs truly reach farmers and have a concrete impact on their lives,” he said.
He added that DA-PRDP will continue to conduct rigorous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the project is finished with high quality, sustainable standards, and full utility for the citizens.
Surigao City Mayor Paul Yves L. Dumlao, on the other hand, said, “This project is more than infrastructure. It is a lifeline for our farmers. It means faster transport of goods, better access to markets, and improved livelihoods for our communities. As we break ground, let this stand as a powerful reminder that through this strong leadership, meaningful partnerships, and a shared vision, we can build a better and more prosperous Surigao City.”
On behalf of the farmers, Mario Albay from Barangay Anomar expressed gratitude to DA. “We look forward to the physical realization of this project and for us to have a decent and proper road for the safety and efficient transport of our products; convenient travels of the locals, more income to the farmers, and better access to government services.”
The ceremonial groundbreaking, held on April 15 in Barangay Anomar, was also witnessed by Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers, PRDP Mindanao Project Director Macario D. Gonzaga, and DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. They expect that the start of the project construction will bring positive change not only to the agricultural sector but also to the general development of rural communities across the province.
As support to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen the agriculture sector, the DA’s PRDP Scale-Up continues to intensify rural development through modernized infrastructure, higher farmer income, and strengthened agricultural value chains, promoting an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DA Caraga)
