Empowering rural growth. Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the local government of Opol formally turn over a newly improved 1.23-kilometer farm-to-market road in Barangay Nangcaon, Opol, Misamis Oriental on July 11, 2025. Funded under the RAPID Growth Project, the P29.89-million infrastructure is set to benefit nearly 4,700 residents, including 54 tribal farmers and 400 farming households, by reducing travel time and improving access to agricultural markets, particularly for local coffee producers. (Photo courtesy of DTI-10)
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | DTI improves market access for farmers with upgraded road in Opol
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in northern Mindanao, through its Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project, officially turned over an improved farm-to-market road in Barangay Nangcaon, Opol, Misamis Oriental to the local government unit (LGU) of Opol on July 11, 2025.
The 1.23-kilometer road, constructed at a total cost of P29.89 million, was jointly funded by the DTI Northern Mindanao RAPID Growth Project and the LGU Opol.
The infrastructure is expected to benefit 4,694 residents in the area. The improved road reduces travel time and supports better access to markets for 54 members of the Nangcaon Tribal Farmers Organization and 400 farming households involved in various crops.
DTI Assistant Regional Director Almer Masillones said the project is part of the agency’s broader effort to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in expanding their customer reach and reducing exposure to market risks.
“Usa sa mga dagkong lakang sa pagtabang sa atong mga mag-uuma ang mapadako ilang mga merkado pinaagi sa pagpaayo sa dalan,” said Masillones.
(One of the major steps to assist our farmers widen their markets is the road improvement.)
Masillones said that coffee, which grows abundantly in the area, holds strong potential for the region. She explained that this is why the agency is actively supporting coffee farmers in connecting to wider markets to help improve their livelihoods.
Reynaldo Jamito, president of the Nangcaon Tribal Farmers Association, thanked the agencies involved, noting the road’s role in easing transport and creating more opportunities for the group’s coffee operations.
“Dako mig pasalamat sa mga lumilihok sa DTI ilabi na sa suporta sa LGU Opol tungod kay dili mahimo magmalamposon ang proyekto kung walay pagtambayayong,” said Jamito.
(We are very grateful to the personnel of DTI, especially the support from LGU Opol because the project would not be successful without collaboration.)
The RAPID Growth Project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is a value chain development initiative aimed at increasing the income of smallholder farmers and rural communities by facilitating partnerships among key actors in select agricultural sectors.
One of the project’s components focuses on farm-to-market infrastructure (FMI), which includes the rehabilitation of access roads to improve connectivity for farmers and small enterprises. This component is implemented in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The turnover ceremony was attended by representatives from the Opol LGU, led by Municipal Administrator Attorney Kenneth Kempis; DTI RAPID Growth Project staff; and representatives from the regional offices of DILG and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along with project beneficiaries. (DTI-10/PIA-10)
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