Farm-to-market road system to benefit onion growers in OccMin

MAMBURAO, Occidental Mindoro – All is set to begin the construction of the Surong Bridge and upgrade of the Barangay Aguas Farm-to-Market Road in Rizal town, this province, after a crucial requirement for the project has been satisfied.

In his social post on Thursday, Governor Eduardo Gadiano said he has received the No Objections Letter 1 (NOL1) from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., effectively authorizing the combined project.

The document was handed over by Tiu to Gadiano on Wednesday in ceremonies held at the Department of Agriculture Head Office in Quezon City.

“The NOL1, which was dated June 5, affirms that there are funds allocated for the projects, and paves the way for the beginning of the procurement process,” the governor wrote in Filipino.

He, however, did not mention a definite timeframe for the project's completion.

The project is being funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

Gadiano said the project, which is expected to cost some PHP263 million, is intended to support the onion-growing industry in Occidental Mindoro by improving the land link between onion farms and vegetable retail outlets.

The bridge and farm-to-market road will have a combined length of 4.48 kilometers, and is envisioned to support the livelihoods of some 3,384 onion growers from 786 households within its Road Influence Area, he added.

The PRDP is a six-year national project under the Marcos administration that aims to establish a modern, value chain-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. (PNA)