The Department of Agriculture (DA) has started construction on a P365.9 million farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Surigao City to improve agricultural transport and boost rural livelihoods.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony. The project, called the NRJ Trinidad–Mabini FMR, is funded jointly by the World Bank, the DA, and the local government.
Construction is underway and expected to be completed by 2027. The 6.5-kilometer road will connect 10 barangays in Surigao City and the nearby town of Sison, benefiting nearly 2,900 households, including over 1,200 farmers.
The project includes concrete paving and three bridges—Togonan, Lower Sangay, and Anomar—each measuring 61 meters. It aims to improve the coconut supply chain, a key industry in the area.
The DA said the road will cut transport costs by more than 26 percent, from P190 to about P140 per sack, and reduce travel time from around 43 minutes to just over 10 minutes. Farmers and traders could also save up to four hours during bad weather.
The project is expected to increase farm productivity, support agricultural expansion, and attract investment in coconut processing. It also has a projected economic return rate of 14.4 percent.
Tiu Laurel said the road will help farmers access wider markets, stabilize prices, and improve incomes, supporting the goal of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a more food-secure and connected rural economy.
