The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) broke ground for a P26 million farm-to-market road project in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental on Feb. 24, 2025 to boost agricultural trade and accessibility for local farmers.
The 1.06-kilometer road improvement project will benefit 905 households by expediting the transport of agricultural products such as coffee, cacao, coconut, and banana, enhancing convenience for farmers and stakeholders in the value chain.
DTI’s Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project and the local government unit (LGU) of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental jointly funded the project.
With backing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the RAPID Growth Project, a value chain-based development program, is designed to support farmers and sustain strategic partnerships among key agricultural sectors.
The goal is to increase the income of smallholder farmers and boost rural economic growth.
The farm-to-market infrastructure component, led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Northern Mindanao, focuses on rehabilitating farm-to-market roads to enhance agricultural accessibility.
DTI Misamis Oriental provincial director Jesusa Abear noted the significance of the event, calling it a milestone in the project’s implementation.
“The DTI will continue to provide support. This project is a crucial step toward improving market access for our farmers, enabling them to transport their produce more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance their income opportunities,” she said.