Gingog LGU Mayor Erick Cañosa; DILG-Northern Mindanao, led by Assistant Regional Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga; DTI Misamis Oriental, led by PD Abear; the DTI-Northern Mindanao Regional Office; and the project beneficiaries during the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the farm-to-market road in Barangay Bal-ason.

Misamis Oriental, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 24 to mark the start of the construction of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City.

The 1.06-kilometer road improvement project, with a total cost of PHP 26 million, is expected to benefit 905 households. Specifically, it will facilitate the transport of products such as coffee, cacao, coconut, and banana to market, providing greater convenience to farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain.

This farm-to-market road project is funded under the DTI’s Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project and the local government unit (LGU) of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. The RAPID Growth Project, financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is a value chain-based development program. It aims to support farmers and establish strategic partnerships among key agricultural sectors to increase the income of smallholder farmers and rural residents.

The farm-to-market infrastructure, led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Northern Mindanao, is one of the project’s sub-components that aims to rehabilitate farm-to-market access roads.  

DTI Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Jesusa Abear pointed out that the groundbreaking ceremony is a special occasion that marks a milestone of the project.

“Ang DTI magpadayon og suporta (The DTI will continue to provide support). This project is a significant step toward improving market access for our farmers, allowing them to transport their produce more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance their income opportunities,” said PD Abear.

The DTI reaffirmed its continuous support to the farmer-beneficiaries through other programs and activities, including capacity development, enterprise development, financing support, and matching grants.

“By strengthening the agricultural value chain, we are fostering rural economic growth and ensuring a more sustainable livelihood for smallholder farmers in Gingoog City,” PD Abear added.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Barangay Bal-ason farm-to-market road improvement was attended by representatives from Gingoog LGU, led by Mayor Erick Cañosa; DILG-Northern Mindanao, led by Assistant Regional Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga; DTI Misamis Oriental, led by PD Abear; the DTI-Northern Mindanao Regional Office; and the project beneficiaries. ♦

Date of release: 03 March 2025

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