Masinloc, Zambales Mayor Hazel Lim (middle right) receives the No Objection Letter 1 from Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (middle left) for the improvement of the Baloganon–Sitio Coto, Taltal farm-to-market roads. (DA-PRDP NPCO)
MASINLOC, Zambales— More than 1,500 farmers in Masinloc, Zambales are expected to benefit from a P727-million farm-to-market road (FMR) project after the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up issued No Objection Letter 1 (NOL 1) for the Improvement of the Baloganon–Sitio Coto, Taltal FMR, including the construction of 11 bridges.
In a statement, DA-PRDP said the issuance of NOL 1 marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the “largest” infrastructure subproject and the longest farm-to-market road rehabilitation project under the PRDP Scale-Up program.
The NOL 1 was received by Masinloc Mayor Hazel Lim from DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. during a ceremonial awarding held at the Department of Agriculture Central Office.
The 26-kilometer road improvement and bridge construction project aims to enhance connectivity among agricultural communities in Barangays Baloganon, Tapuac, and Taltal.
The agency highlighted that once completed, it is expected to provide safer, faster, and more reliable access to markets, production areas, and essential services.
The project is also seen to help reduce transportation costs and post-harvest losses while improving the movement of agricultural products from farms to trading centers.
Meanwhile, the DA-PRDP mentioned that the project will directly serve more than 2,300 hectares of agricultural land, supporting the production of mangoes, rice, and other high-value crops in the area.
Supporting the government’s efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve farm-to-market connectivity, enhance agricultural productivity, and expand economic opportunities in rural communities, the project is set to benefit thousands of farmers and households, including indigenous peoples, through the expanded economic opportunities and the strengthened rural livelihoods. (PIA – Region 3 Zambales)