DA breaks ground on P366-M Surigao farm road project

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has begun construction of a P365.9-million farm-to-market road (FMR) in Surigao del Norte to improve agricultural logistics and reduce transport costs in the region.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DA said the project is implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project, with funding support from the World Bank, the DA, and the Surigao City local government.

The 6.51-kilometer road, which will include more than six kilometers of concrete pavement and three bridges, is expected to be completed by 2027.

The DA said the project will connect 10 barangays in Surigao City and the nearby town of Sison, benefiting nearly 2,900 households, including 1,200 farming families.

The agency said the FMR project is expected to improve the supply chain for coconuts, a priority commodity in the area, by cutting hauling costs and travel time.

According to the DA, transportation, which currently costs as high as P190 per sack, could be reduced by more than a quarter to about P140 per sack.

“Average travel time across the 2,182-hectare road influence area — covering coconut, rice, corn, and banana production zones — is projected to drop from 43.5 minutes to just over 10 minutes,” the DA added.

The DA also expects the project to enable agricultural expansion of up to 103 hectares over 20 years and encourage investment in coconut processing and value-adding enterprises.

Meanwhile, the DA said complementary investments in fisheries infrastructure are also underway in Surigao City to further strengthen the region’s food supply chain.

These include the ongoing development of the Surigao City Fish Port Complex, implemented in two phases by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.

The DA said the first phase of the project, with a budget of P193.6 million, is already 56% complete and is targeted for completion by October. It will include key facilities such as a landing pier, a market hall, and an administration building.

The department said a second phase worth P172.39 million is also in progress. It covers the installation of cold chain systems, including refrigeration, ice-making, and storage facilities, to improve the preservation and handling of fishery products. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel