The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project has approved another four major infrastructure projects to further boost rural productivity in the towns of Caraga region.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Regional Director Edna M. Mabeza awarded recent the certificate of No Objection Letter (NOL) to road and irrigation projects in Nasipit , Agusan del Norte and Malimono, Kitcharao and Sison towns in Surigao del Norte with a total cost of P109 million.
Alcala said, these projects are proof that the government remains true to its commitment in delivering the goods and services for agricultural development.
“We want all the projects intended for our dear farmers are delivered efficiently and on time for we understand that these things will translate to better production and increase in income,” said Alcala during the farmers’ forum held recently in Butuan City.
With the issuance of first NOL, Nasipit town will now start the procurement process of the P34 million Culit Communal Irrigation System which will serve at least 100 hectares of rice area that would benefit 120 farming household.
Further, the construction of 3.32 km. Jubgan–Binocaran farm-to-market road worth P40 million in Malimono, SDN is also given go signal. The project is expected to serve 348 hectares of rice, banana, cassava, vegetables and fruit trees benefitting 875 farming households.
While the construction of 1.56 km. Sangay–Mahayahay FMR worth P15 million in Kitcharao town can now be granted to the winning contractor after the project was issued the second NOL.
The project in Kitcharao would benefit 1,260 farming households and would serve 492 hectares production area for rice, banana, abaca and coconut trees.
“Not far from now, our farmers will be more inspired toiling on the ground seeing a concrete road where they can easily transport their produce,” said Mayor Aristotle Montante. Sison town also received NOL 2 for the construction of 1.82 km. Gacepan–Mayag FMR worth P20 Million. This will serve 400 hectares of rice, banana, root crops and coconut and would benefit 274 farming households.
PRDP’s I-BUILD (Intensified Build Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development) component aims to put in place climate resilient farm-to-market roads (FMR), bridges, communal irrigation and potable water systems.
All of these subprojects aim to improve the links from production areas to markets to enhance the efficiency of transporting agricultural products. “We hope that through these interventions we can achieve higher productivity,” Alcala said.(Fretcher D. Magatao, DA-RPCO-13)
