News Details

DA Greenlights P353-M Farm-to-Market Road to Boost Coffee Farmers in Surigao del Sur

NPO

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September 25, 2025

SURIGAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the initial phase for the construction of a ₱353-million farm-to-market road (FMR) in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, a project seen to significantly improve market access for local coffee producers.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. personally handed over the No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 to DA-13 Regional Director Arlan Mangelen and Tagbina Mayor Glaiza Jane Lanete on Wednesday, signaling the start of the project’s procurement process.

“This FMR will provide wider access and connectivity to coffee farmers and enterprises in Tagbina by addressing the constraints in marketing and transporting their green coffee beans,” DA-13 said in a statement.

The project, officially titled Concreting of Malixi to Sitio Pamintigan, Hinagdanan FMR, spans 15.4 kilometers and will be implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up program.

Once completed, the road is expected to benefit 2,787 households or about 11,148 individuals, while strengthening the operations of the San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO), a coffee enterprise backed by PRDP.

In the coming months, the project will move forward with the signing of the Implementation Management Agreement, issuance of a Certificate of Availability of Funds, NOL 2, contract awarding, and the Notice to Proceed.

The DA emphasized that the FMR will not only improve transport efficiency for farmers but also enhance the overall competitiveness of Surigao del Sur’s coffee industry.

NPO News Team I PNA-PR