Senator Kiko Pangilinan issued a stern warning against any attempt to steal or misuse funds allocated for the government’s P33-billion farm-to-market road (FMR) program, stressing that he will pursue and hold accountable anyone involved in corrupt practices that deprive farmers of much-needed infrastructure.
“We have put in place several safeguards para talagang matiyak (na walang magiging korapsyon),” Pangilinan said in a radio interview. “At sana, palagay ko naman itong pakiusap rin natin at siguro warning na rin na tayo mismo bilang chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, hindi tayo papayag sa kalokohan.”
“Isu-subpoena natin sila kung kinakailangan kapag nakita natin na may mga kalokohan.”
“Babantayan natin ‘yan. Kaya sabi nga, ‘wag na nila subukan dahil makakatikim sila. Papatawag natin sila sa Senado. Pagpapaliwanagin natin sila. Isu-subpoena natin sila kung kinakailangan kapag nakita natin na may mga kalokohan,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker, who defended the 2026 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, pointed out that special provisions—online dashboard, geotagging, and citizens’ participatory audit— are put in place for the implementation of FMR projects to protect the P33-billion fund from misappropriation.
The FMR projects will now be implemented by the DA—after previously falling under the mandate of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—to work on the 60,000-kilometer FMR backlog that aims to boost rural development, ensure food security, and increase farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes.
Aside from the safeguards, the senator also vowed that the DA will be required to validate the actual project cost, detailed engineering design, program of works, approved budget for contract, prevailing market prices, standards unit cost, and site-specific conditions, among others.
Pangilinan also pointed out the role of the private sector and the local government units in competitive bidding, explaining that this provision was modeled after the program of former Department of Education (DepEd) chief Armin Luistro, who constructed 600 school buildings nearly every week during the Aquino administration because of the private sector-LGU partnership.
He likewise called on the public to be vigilant when there are infrastructure projects being implemented in their respective areas.
“Kaya panawagan din sa ating mga nasa LGU, sa private sector, ang ating mga citizens groups: ang ating tanggapan ay tanggapan ninyo sa pagbabantay. Let us know kung may mga hindi impormasyong hindi tama ang pag-implimenta,” Pangilinan said.
“‘Wag niyo nang itangkang gamitin itong mga pondong ito para sa kurakot dahil hahabulin namin kayo.”
“Babantayan natin ‘yan. Kaya ang panawagan natin sa mga mag-iimplimenta nito ay ‘wag niyo nang itangkang gamitin itong mga pondong ito para sa kurakot dahil hahabulin namin kayo,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan also said that he will be following up on DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s commitment to finish its review this first quarter of 2026 of the FMR projects that may have been overpriced.
He revealed that some FMR projects have already been tagged for possible corruption and evidence will be readied for the filing of cases.
Earlier, Tiu Laurel disclosed that some FMR projects last year have been overpriced by at least 20% per kilometer.
