DA, DPWH seal P430-M deal for 29 MIMAROPA farm roads

QUEZON CITY — The Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA and Department of Public Works and Highways have signed an agreement for the implementation of 29 farm-to-market road projects worth a combined P430 million across the MIMAROPA region.

The memorandum of agreement was signed on 28 September at the DPWH Regional Office in Quezon City, covering projects funded under the Department of Agriculture's 2026 General Appropriations Act.

DA-MIMAROPA said the projects are intended to improve connections between agricultural production areas, markets and major roads in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

Under the agreement, project funds will be transferred to DPWH based on approved milestones and upon the submission, validation and acceptance of required technical, physical and financial reports.

The P430-million allocation will be released in at least three tranches to allow monitoring of project implementation and fund utilization.

DA-MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Christopher Bañas said the farm-to-market roads are expected to make it easier and faster for farmers to transport their produce to markets and help address logistics constraints faced by agricultural communities.

OIC Regional Technical Director for Operations Ronald Degala represented Bañas during the signing, while DPWH Regional Director Rosita Tinawin and Assistant Regional Director Richard Ragasa attended with district engineers from across MIMAROPA.

DA-MIMAROPA said the two agencies will coordinate to ensure that the 29 projects comply with prescribed technical standards and project requirements.

The DA issued Special Order 756 in June authorizing its regional executive directors to sign agreements with DPWH for the implementation of farm-to-market road projects.