DA to take over farm-to-market roads construction from DPWH starting 2026

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it will start the takeover of development and construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) beginning 2026.

During a Senate hearing earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will take the lead in constructing FMRs after it was revealed that some of these projects implemented by the DPWH were allegedly overpriced. 

In a statement, the DA said the move "signals a more focused approach to agricultural lifelines, ensuring every kilometer built directly supports farming communities."

The Agriculture Department added that it is already preparing for the DPWH handover next year, following President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to deliver infrastructure swiftly and at the right cost. 

Tiu Laurel and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon met on Tuesday, October 28, to review audits of past FMR projects, assessing whether any were compromised, according to the DA.

Tiu Laurel and Dizon's discussion covered pending projects slated for 2025, which the DPWH proposed to complete under a catch-up plan.

"These roads are badly needed by our farmers and fisherfolk. They will ease livelihoods, lower production costs, and give farmers more time with their families," said Tiu Laurel.

Dizon, for his part, said that "there are roughly 1,000 kilometers of FMRs that still need construction in 2025."

"We must think outside the box to ensure these roads are completed as quickly as possible. Local government units will be engaged, similar to our approach with classrooms," added the DPWH chief.

The DA said the 2025 catch-up plan will serve as the blueprint on how the DA will undertake the road projects.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier tagged as overpriced the FMR projects in 2023 and 2024, amounting to a total of P10.3 billion. 

The standard cost for FMRs, as set by the DPWH, is typically at P15,000 per meter, and could even go as low as P10,000 per meter.

Tiu Laurel also said during the Senate hearing that the billions-worth of suspicious FMR projects stretching to 70,000 kilometers were already flagged by the DA and considered "ghost or semi-ghost projects." — VDV, GMA Integrated News