The 11.65-km Improvement of Gumhang-Binablayan-Wangwang Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) with Bridge in Tinoc, Ifugao is set to begin following the approval to award the contract under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up.
Implemented by the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Tinoc, the subproject received its No Objection Letter (NOL) 2 from the DA-PRDP Scale-Up, authorizing the award of contract to Viking Construction and Supplies amounting to Php421.37 million.
The road project will start at Sitio Awa in Barangay Gumhang and end at Sitio Amboot in Barangay Binablayan, directly benefiting residents of Barangays Gumhang, Binablayan, and Wangwang. The improved road network will also provide a more accessible route for residents of Barangays Tulludan and Ahin traveling to the municipal hall area where essential government, health, education, and other social services are located.
A total of 932 households or 4,366 individuals composed of 2,313 males and 2,053 females are expected to directly benefit from the subproject within its influence areas.
Designed to support the production and transport of highland vegetables and aromatic/pigmented rice, the FMR subproject aims to improve the living conditions of farmers and indigenous communities through better access to agricultural inputs, livelihood opportunities, education, healthcare, and other basic services. Tinoc is among the suppliers of highland vegetables delivered to major trading hubs in Benguet, Baguio City, and Nueva Vizcaya, making improved road connectivity crucial in enhancing farm productivity, increasing household incomes, and contributing to poverty reduction in the municipality.
The subproject currently holds the highest approved cost among DA-PRDP Scale-Up infrastructure subprojects in the Cordillera and the second highest in the North Luzon Cluster.
As part of the PRDP implementation process, a pre-construction conference will be conducted to discuss construction schedules, implementation guidelines, and requirements for fund disbursement, among others. **Elvy T. Estacio (RPCO CAR InfoACE Unit)
