The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) awarded the contract for the second segment of the improvement of Besao-Nacawang and Tadian-Mabalite farm-to-market road in Mountain Province.
The ₱ 91.857 million projects involves widening and upgrading of the 4.154-kilometer Tadian-Mabalite road section and it will be connected to the 8.940-km Besao-Nacawang road section which is now nearing completion,
The road section will benefit seven barangays of Tadian namely: Mabalite, Batayan, Bantey, Sumadel, Masla, Duagan and Lubon.
The Tadian-Mabalite road section was previously approved, however, the DA-PRDP and the Mountain Province local government mutually decided to terminate and repackage the subproject.
In repackaging the proposal, several changes were made, including shortening of road length from 11.77 km to 4.154 km; widening of road width from four to five meters; revision of cost estimates; and, also the economic and financial analysis (EFA), among others.
Rigi May B. Copatan, Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Officer of the RPCO-CAR said that validation activities and a series of consultation with beneficiaries and project affected persons (PAPs) were conducted as regards the repackaging of the subproject.
“It is important for consultations to be conducted for the beneficiaries, the primary users of the road, to be informed of the changes in the design and specifications of the subproject,” she said.
After completion of the road section, farmers and residents in the municipalities of Besao and Tadian will then have an easier access to the neighboring towns and markets within and outside the province.
“It will have a connectivity to better market opportunities available for the farmers and residents within the area, as well as the delivery of agricultural inputs and the marketing of their produce especially coffee and heirloom rice,” said Atty. Dawayan.
The FMR subproject will likewise complement the operations of the Mountain Province Arabica Coffee Enterprise which is also implemented under the DA-PRDP. (Elvy Taquio Estacio, DA-PRDP)
