DA sees 20% savings once it takes over farm-to-market roads construction

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting to save at least 20% in construction costs once it takes over the development of farm-to-market roads (FMR) from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) beginning 2026.

“If Congress allows us under the 2026 national budget, we can use those savings to build more roads—helping farmers and fisherfolk cut production costs, reach markets faster, earn more, and ultimately lower food prices,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in a statement.

Tiu Laurel said the current cost of building a kilometer of a concrete, two-lane FMR averages around P15 million. 

The Agriculture chief said the DA’s internal management and use of new technologies could bring it down to P12 million or “even lower if we use different methods or techniques such as soil stabilizers where it is suitable in certain areas.”

The Marcos administration initially proposed a P16-billion budget for the development of 1,000 kilometers of FMRs in 2026.

The House of Representatives, however, doubled the amount to P32 billion, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to realign flood-control funds to priority agricultural infrastructure.

To ensure transparency and speed, Tiu Laurel said the DA will work closely with local governments, civil society organizations, and the Philippine Army’s Corps of Engineers. 

“We want every peso to go to real roads that benefit real farmers—not into the pockets of corrupt officials,” he said.

The DA’s master plan identifies about 131,000 kilometers of potential FMRs nationwide, of which around 70,000 kilometers have been completed. 

At the current pace, full completion could take 60 years.

“We can cut that time in half with stronger coordination and smarter spending,” Tiu Laurel said. 

“Every road we build brings us closer to making farming truly profitable and food more affordable for every Filipino,” he said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News