BUTUAN CITY – Big number of coffee, coconut and palm-oil growers in far-flung areas in Surigao del Sur, particularly in Tagbina town, are seen to uplift their living condition and economically stable due to concreting and paving of road leading to their farming areas.

Agri-business is also seen to spur due to all-weather roads.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) fast-tracked the concreting and paving of local roads to support these big numbers of farmers and small businesses in that Pacific Ocean-facing province, particularly in Tagbina town.

“We are redoubling our effort in paving and concreting the local roads in an effort to improve the lives of our farmers and also boost the local agri-business,” stressed DPWH 13 Regional Director Engr. Pol M. Delos Santos in an interview with The Manila Bulletin on Monday, Aug. 22.

Director Delos Santos said that a total of 12.48 kilometers road will be concreted with provisions of drainage, slope protection structures and road safety devices from Barangay Poblacion, in the junction of Surigao-Davao Coastal Road inward to Sitio Mabuhay, Barangay Kahayagan and traversing barangays Magsaysay, Osmeña and Villaverde.

"With improved roads, our farmers can level off production and labor to market demands,” the region’s top DPWH 13 official pointed out.

“With this all-weather road, transportation and hauling costs will also be greatly reduced as buyers can now easily access the farm and production gate of the farmers, thereby securing good profit to our farmers," added Delos Santos.

He said these ongoing road projects in Tagbina town will also bolster the tourism sector as it will give access to the amazing Libuacan Cold Spring, a local tourist destination near the area.

The road will also serve as an alternate route for locals and tourists heading towards the region’s famous Enchanted River and its surrounding white sand beaches, said Delos Santos.

Meanwhile, in his progress report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan on Monday, Delos Santos also said two vital bridges are seen to spur more economic prosperity and development in Northeastern Mindanao or The Caraga Region when the ground works are completed.

The agency will soon complete the widening of these vital bridges along Daang Maharlika Surigao – Agusan Section, namely the more than P66 million Bangonay Bridge in Jabonga town, Agusan del Norte province and the more than P284 million Magtiaco Bridge in Alegria town, Surigao Del Norte province.

These two bridges were damaged and rendered impassable due to the scouring of the slope protection approaches, resulting in the disturbed economic activity and even hampered relief operations during the 2018 typhoon “Basyang”.

“These two bridges are already completed and only the approaches are now being focused to completely finish them,” Delos Santos said.

He said widening from two lanes to four lanes through the construction of parallel bridges will ensure more volume of vehicles to accommodate this section of Daang Maharlika national highway.

“Remaining works on the parallel bridges also involve the construction of approaches that are targeted to be completed within its target timeline of completion,” he said.

Delos Santos said the additional lanes from the newly-constructed parallel bridges will also alleviate traffic strain on the old bridges, preventing further deterioration of structures.

The widening projects also cover the provision of solar lights for the safety of motorists, bikers, and pedestrians traveling at night.

“This soon to complete region’s vital bridges will surely spur the already economically boom region and these two neighboring provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte,” Director Delos Santos added.

Shown in photo is the concrete road in the far-flung area in Tagbina town, Surigao del Sur province. (Photo courtesy of DPWH 13 via Mike U. Crismundo/Manila Bulletin)