La Union farm-to-market road first phase to start this month

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Rehabilitation of the Ramut-Puguil Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Santol, La Union is set to begin this January, Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega confirmed.

The project, with a total budget of P290 million, is funded through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) under the Department of Agriculture (DA), with a cost-sharing component from the provincial government. Ortega said the local funds for the counterpart are already secured.

The seven-kilometer road in northeastern Santol was identified as one of the most remote areas in the province. Officials said upgrading it is intended to boost economic activity and improve access to services for residents in upland barangays.

The project follows a lengthy approval process. It was initially endorsed by the Regional Project Advisory Board on November 20, 2018, after a feasibility study. On January 8, 2026, provincial, municipal, and DA officials conducted a joint site inspection to finalize requirements for the first phase.