Tagbina: The Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga) has welcomed the issuance of No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 for the PHP353-million Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur. The NOL 1, issued by the DA Central Office, was handed over on Wednesday by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to the DA-13 delegation led by Regional Director Arlan Mangelen and Tagbina Mayor Glaiza Jane Lanete.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 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. Once completed, the road project will primarily benefit 2,787 households and 11,148 individuals, and boost the operations of the San Nicolas Development Cooperative (SANIDECO), a coffee enterprise being supported by the DA's Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).
With the issuance of NOL 1, the procurement process will soon follow, involving the local government unit of Tagbina. Other activities scheduled in the next four months include signing the Implementation Management Agreement, issuing the Certificate of Availability of Funds, issuing NOL 2, awarding the contract, and issuing the Notice to Proceed.
The project, titled 'Concreting of Malixi to Sitio Pamintigan, Hinagdanan FMR,' spans 15.4 km and is financed through the DA's Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up program.
