Davao Oriental's P286-M Farm-to-Market Road to Slash Travel Time by 60%
The Regional Project Advisory Board has given the green light to a significant infrastructure initiative in Davao Oriental, approving a P286.58-million farm-to-market road project. This development is projected to dramatically cut travel time for local farmers by approximately 60 percent, marking a major step forward in enhancing rural connectivity and agricultural efficiency in the province.
Project Details and Expected Benefits
The project focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading an 8.5-kilometer road that connects Barangay Mainit in Cateel to Sitio Cabasagan in Boston, both located in Davao Oriental. According to Agri Info, as shared in a Facebook post on March 11, 2026, the improved route will reduce travel time from about 25 minutes to just 10 minutes. This acceleration is expected to facilitate faster movement of goods and services, with traffic along the road anticipated to grow by around 4 percent annually as access improves.
Key benefits for farmers include:
- A reduction in transportation costs, with hauling expenses projected to drop by about 18 percent per sack and 35 percent per bundle.
- Minimized product losses during delivery, potentially declining from 0.95 percent to 0.10 percent.
- Enhanced market access, which is set to strengthen rural connectivity and support agricultural growth.
Economic and Agricultural Impact
The project's economic analysis reveals promising figures, including an Economic Internal Rate of Return of 13.12 percent, surpassing the required benchmark of 10 percent. Additionally, it boasts a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.26 and a Net Present Value of P78.77 million, indicating substantial long-term economic gains for Davao Oriental.
Beyond transportation improvements, the initiative is expected to open approximately 23 hectares of additional agricultural land within two years, supporting crops such as banana cardaba, abaca, cacao, and coconut. This expansion will further bolster the province's agricultural sector and contribute to sustainable development.
Community and Employment Benefits
Once completed, the road will benefit around 4,285 residents, including 903 members of Indigenous communities and 3,382 non-Indigenous residents. It will provide safer and more reliable access for farmers, traders, and residents traveling between Cateel and Boston.
The construction phase will also generate employment opportunities, requiring 69 skilled workers and 164 unskilled laborers. Funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up program, the project involves converting the existing road into a Portland Cement Concrete Pavement and constructing two bridges with a combined length of 92 meters—one measuring 30 linear meters and another spanning 62 meters.
Overall, this farm-to-market road project represents a critical investment in Davao Oriental's infrastructure, promising to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and foster a more connected agricultural community.
