Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the No Objection Letter (NOL1) awarded by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to the island province.

The NOL1, which Laurel handed over to Demerey at the DA Central Office on Monday, signals the start of implementing a PHP150 million farm-to-market road (FMR) in Libjo town. It covers procurement and other essential steps to commence the project.

“This unified effort of the DA, the provincial government, and other concerned agencies will benefit the people of Dinagat, especially the farmers and the fisherfolk,” Demerey said in a statement Tuesday.

He also thanked the personnel of the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the Dinagat provincial government for their efforts in processing the technical requirements for the project.

The project is part of the infrastructure development under the Scale-Up program of PRDP in the Caraga Region.

The FMR is expected to benefit 347 households and about 2,866 residents in the province, mainly farmers and fisherfolk. (PNA)