The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) – National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) has given its green light to proceed to the bidding of two farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the province of Palawan.

Passing the criteria set by the Project, the proposed subprojects in the Municipality of Dumaran and City of Puerto Princesa obtained a No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1) from NPCO on May 24, 2019.

These subprojects are the 17-kilometer Construction and Upgrading of Junction Salban – Culasian – Magsaysay FMR in Dumaran that costs P227.39 million and the Construction of Maruyogon – Buenavista FMR in Puerto Princesa City amounting to P136.34 million.

The construction and upgrading of these roads will provide convenient and safe lane access especially for the farmers and fisherfolk as they transport their products.

With NOL1 issuances, PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) conducted a pre-procurement conference with the Palawan and Puerto Princesa Provincial and City Project Management and Implementation Unit (P/CPMIU) on June 10 and 11, 2019, respectively to orient them on the World Bank Harmonized Procurement Guidelines and assist them on the preparation of the Philippine Bidding Documents.

The PRDP South Luzon PSO Procurement Unit Head, Michael Gregory Vargas, who presented the guidelines to both local government units (LGUs), highlighted that the prompt submission of the required bidding documents should be one of the priorities of the LGUs to fast track the implementation of the subprojects.

During the conference with Palawan PPMU, its head, Ninfa Rubio, expressed her gratitude to the Project as after five and a half years, the much-awaited NOL1 has already been issued to the Dumaran FMR.

“We really thank you [PRDP] for this. Nakita namin yung area na iyon – depressed at mahirap talagang daanan. (We saw how unpaved the road is – depressed and passing here is somehow difficult.) Through PRDP, this project would mean a lot to the community of Dumaran,” said Rubio.

On the second day of the activity, South Luzon PSO Deputy Project Director, Shandy M. Hubilla, commended Puerto Princesa City as they never stopped planning more projects even after implementing their previous subprojects. The construction of Maruyogon – Buenavista road is the third FMR of the city under PRDP.

Hubilla also encouraged the LGUs to propose more subprojects for the succeeding years for the benefit of the farmers and fisherfolk.

The LGUs may now proceed with national newspaper publication of Invitation to Bid, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System posting, and standard bidding documents issuance to prospective bidders. ### (Lea Caliuag, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)

South Luzon PSO Procurement Head, Michael Gregory Vargas, presents to the Puerto Princesa CPMIU the World Bank Harmonized Procurement Guidelines. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)

South Luzon PSO Procurement Head, Michael Gregory Vargas, presents to the Palawan PPMIU the World Bank Harmonized Procurement Guidelines. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)