Three Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) in Agusan del Norte proposed under the PRDP Scale-Up underwent a Subproject Appraisal and Review (SPAR) from July 18 – 21, 2023.

The SPAR, jointly facilitated by the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), the Project Support Office (PSO) Mindanao, and the Regional Project Coordination Office XIII (RPCO 13), is done to ensure that the proposed subprojects comply with DA-PRDP guidelines, as well as to ensure consistency between each subproject’s engineering designs and the actual project sites.

RPCO 13 Rural Infrastructure Specialist Rhidge L. Berdera emphasizes the SPAR as a crucial step in getting the subprojects approved as it allows implementing partners to address issues and recommendations raised by DA-PRDP before the proposals undergo technical review.

“The SPAR revealed the need for three Cs in their proposals: Consistency, Correctness, and Completeness of data. For our part in the Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) unit, we have to ensure that all possible impacts from the subprojects will already have corresponding mitigating measures,” says NPCO SES Officer Roan M. Nuelan.

The three subprojects, which was proposed under the PRDP Scale-Up, are as follows: the Pirada – Payas FMR with bridge in Cabadbaran City, the San Isidro – Baraas FMR with bridge and the Mahayahay – Zion Libertad FMR with bridge, both located in the municipality of Kitcharao.

Melly Alejandro, part of the Board of Directors of the Manhon Agriculture Cooperative (MACO) in Barangay Del Pilar in Cabadbaran, admits that the lack of a concrete FMR has made it difficult to find larger markets for their agricultural products. The high transportation costs become a deterrent, leading them to sell some of their products exclusively within nearby communities.

The proposed subprojects will have to undergo a joint technical review and deliberation from the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) before they can be approved. Once approved, the FMRs will connect to agricultural production areas in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Cabadbaran City.  (Nichole L. Talatala | July 24, 2023)