The onion industry in Occidental Mindoro is up to receive infrastructure reinforcement as the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up through the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) approved the Construction of Surong Bridge and Upgrading of Brgy. Aguas Farm to Market Road in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, March 22, 2024.

The said Php263.434 million-worth subproject will be comprised of a 4.69 kilometer-road and a 122 meter-bridge which will benefit more than 3,300 people in 786 households within the Road Influence Area. 

Aside from this investment from PRDP Scale-Up, members of the RPAB also pledged their support through repurposing of the tree logs that will be produced by the subproject as introduced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the further development of the area site by the incorporation of proper fish technology with the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Personally attended by Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano, he expressed his relief for the fruitful results of the four-year long preparations.

“This project was four years in the making, so we are grateful for the approval. All this effort we are doing not for us but for our constituents so my heartfelt gratitude to our RPAB members,” said Governor Gadiano.

The Construction of Surong Bridge and Upgrading of Brgy. Aguas Farm to Market Road is the fourth PRDP subproject in the province of Occidental Mindoro supporting the onion industry, the first three being the Onion Consolidation and Trading with Cold Storage Facility and Upgrading/Concreting of Brgy. Poblacion Farm-To-Market Road in Magsaysay, and the Onion Consolidation and Trading with Cold Storage Facility in San Jose. These four subprojects amount to more than Php600 million of investments for onion farmers in the province.

The said RPAB meeting was led by RPAB members: DA’s Regional Executive Director (RED) Atty. Christopher R. Bañas, RED Atty. Marvin Bernal with Lineth Vinerao from the Depart of Agrarian Reform, Lorenzo Suarez from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Engr. Alexis Sarmiento from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Maria Victoria Sario from DENR, OIC-ARD Roberto R. Abrera and Raymundo Dela Cruz, Jr. from BFAR, and Alfonso J. Esguerra, Jr. from the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council. # (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

RPAB deliberation of the Construction of Surong Bridge and Upgrading of Brgy. Aguas Farm to Market Road (Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

(L to R) Engr. Franklin Z. Angel, Elmer A. Velacruz, and Hon. Eduardo B. Gadiano presents their proposal “Construction of Surong Bridge and Upgrading of Brgy. Aguas Farm to Market Road” to the RPAB members.
(Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DA’s Regional Executive Director (RED) Atty. Christopher R. Bañas precedes his first RPAB Business Meeting.
(Photo by Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)