DA Approves P286.5-M Farm-to-Market Road Project in Davao Oriental

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2026-03-12 05:47:22

Davao City — The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) announced on Thursday that the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) has approved a PHP286.5-million farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Davao Oriental.

The project involves the rehabilitation and upgrading of an 8.5-kilometer road linking Barangay Mainit in Cateel, Davao Oriental to Sitio Cabasagan in Boston, Davao Oriental.

Funded under the PRDP Scale-Up Program, the project will improve the existing route by installing durable pavement and constructing two 92-meter bridges to ensure safer and more dependable travel for residents, farmers, and traders in the area.

Authorities expect traffic along the road to grow by about 4 percent annually as accessibility and connectivity improve.

According to Nelson Dayanghirang, governor of Davao Oriental, the infrastructure project will directly benefit around 3,000 residents, including more than 900 farmers and fisherfolk.

Once completed, travel time between the two municipalities is projected to drop significantly—from 25 minutes to around 10 minutes—allowing quicker and more efficient transport of agricultural products and other goods.

Dayanghirang described the project as an important step in strengthening rural infrastructure and improving the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk in the province. He also thanked the DA-PRDP for its continued partnership with local government units.

Farmers are expected to gain from reduced transportation costs and lower product losses during delivery. Hauling costs may drop by 18 percent per sack and 35 percent per bundle, while transport losses are projected to decline to around 1 percent.

The upgraded road will also help open about 23 hectares of additional farmland within the next two years, supporting crops such as cardava banana, abaca, cacao, and coconut.

Aside from improving agricultural logistics, the project will generate employment during construction, creating 69 skilled jobs and 164 positions for unskilled laborers.

Overall, the project is expected to benefit approximately 4,285 residents, including 903 indigenous peoples (IP) and 3,382 non-IP community members. Economic analysis of the project also indicates strong financial viability.

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