P421-M Farm-to-Market Road Project in Tinoc, Ifugao set to transform remote communities

Tinoc, Ifugao – The construction of what is currently the most expensive farm-to-market road (FMR) project approved under the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up in the Cordillera region is set to begin in Tinoc, Ifugao.

The 11.65-kilometer Gumhang-Binablayan-Wangwang Farm-to-Market Road, which includes a bridge component, recently received the green light following the issuance of a No Objection Letter (NOL) by the DA-PRDP.

The approval authorizes the municipal government to award the P421.37-million contract to Viking Construction and Supplies, paving the way for the implementation of one of the region's largest rural infrastructure projects.

Aside from being the highest-cost infrastructure subproject approved by the DA in the Cordillera, the project was also cited as the second most expensive under the North Luzon Cluster of the DA-PRDP Scale-Up program.

According to DA-PRDP Cordillera, the project will extend from Sitio Awa in Barangay Gumhang to Sitio Amboot in Barangay Binablayan, providing improved connectivity to communities that have long depended on difficult and often hazardous routes, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

A total of 932 households, or 4,366 individuals, consisting of 2,313 males and 2,053 females, are expected to directly benefit from the project.

The road is primarily designed to support the production and transportation of highland vegetables and other agricultural products, helping farmers bring their goods to market more efficiently and at lower transportation costs.

Tinoc is recognized as one of the major vegetable-producing areas in the Cordillera, supplying produce to trading hubs in Benguet, Baguio City, and Nueva Vizcaya.

Beyond boosting agricultural productivity, the project is also expected to improve access to education, healthcare services, livelihood opportunities, and other essential services for residents living in the affected communities.

The road improvement project forms part of the DA-PRDP Scale-Up Program's broader objective of strengthening rural connectivity and supporting agricultural development in underserved areas.

Before construction begins, a pre-construction conference will be conducted to discuss implementation schedules, project guidelines, and fund disbursement requirements among concerned stakeholders.