By Elvy T. Estacio, RPCO-CAR Writer

The Improvement of Pula-Cawayan-Camandag Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) with Bridge subproject in Asipulo, Ifugao is set to commence as the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up granted the green light for contract awarding to the winning bidder. 

The issuance of the No Objection Letter 2 (NOL2) officially authorizes the subproject to proceed, with ALFALFA Construction securing the contract valued at PhP244.30 million.

This subproject, proposed in support of the local coffee industry, will cover a span of 6.02 kilometers and include the construction of a 30-linear meter bridge. Once completed, it is expected to benefit 1,847 households, encompassing 8,755 residents (4,655 men and 4,100 women) across the area.

The road will connect three barangays: Pula, Cawayan, and Camandag, ensuring smoother and safer transportation for farmers and traders, especially during inclement weather. The enhanced infrastructure is anticipated to significantly boost the efficiency of local agricultural trade and support the community’s economic growth.

Initially approved under the DA-PRDP Original Loan funding in 2017, the project faced delays due to the original contractor’s failure to meet the required project specifications within the designated timeline, leading to its termination.

As part of the PRDP implementation process, a pre-construction conference will soon be conducted to discuss specific implementation guidelines and processes including the requirements for disbursement, among others.