Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon jointly inspected a farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte, as the government steps up a nationwide audit following the transfer of agricultural road development to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The officials visited an 800-meter concrete road in Barangay New Casayuran, completed in July by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office.
The project involved a 5-meter-wide, 0.23-meter-thick pavement designed to improve farm access and lower transport costs for local producers—key factors in reducing post-harvest losses and boosting margins.
The project currently supports around 50 hectares of existing agricultural land for rice, coconut, banana, and vegetable, and is seen to unlock a further 40 hectares of potential production.
The inspection forms part of a broader review aimed at tightening oversight as responsibility for FMRs shifts from the DPWH to the DA, a policy move intended to better align infrastructure spending with agricultural priorities and supply chain needs.
“This audit is critical to ensure that all FMR projects deliver real value to farmers,” Tiu Laurel said, underscoring persistent connectivity gaps that continue to constrain rural productivity and incomes.
“The country needs about 131,000 kilometers of FMRs to fully support agricultural supply chains, with more than 60,000 kilometers still unbuilt.”
The DA estimates the country needs about 131,000 kilometers of FMRs to fully support agricultural supply chains, with more than 60,000 kilometers still unbuilt—highlighting a substantial infrastructure deficit that has long weighed on farm competitiveness.
For 2026, the FMR budget has been doubled to P33 billion, enough to fund roughly 2,300 kilometers of new roads.
Officials say the expanded pipeline is expected to unlock underutilized agricultural land and support higher-value crops such as coffee, potentially strengthening both domestic supply and export prospects.
Records show the Davao del Norte project, funded under the DA’s 2025 FMR program, carried a contract cost of P14.92 million. Construction began in March last year and was completed in about four months.
The contractor, Ruplino Seismundo Construction Corp., worked under the supervision of the DPWH Davao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office, which continues to provide technical oversight during the transition—an arrangement seen as critical to maintaining engineering standards while institutional responsibilities are realigned.
“Further inspections will be conducted nationwide, with a focus not only on completion rates but also on build quality, timeliness, and long-term usability.”
The DA said further inspections will be conducted nationwide, with a focus not only on completion rates but also on build quality, timeliness, and long-term usability—factors that analysts say will determine whether increased spending translates into measurable gains in farm productivity and rural incomes.
Further details of the FMR project can be accessed through https://fmrwatch.bafe.gov.ph/projects/f73b2243-e804-46bf-92b4-428a92b476eb
