Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday announced creating a watchdog unit to ensure strict oversight of its growing infrastructure program, including farm-to-market roads (FMRs), which will return to the DA’s control from the Department of Public Works and Highways next year.
Tiu Laurel said the recent flood-control controversy highlights the need for tighter safeguards. “We cannot afford gray areas or blind spots,” he said, adding that the new unit will enforce transparency, accountability, and environmental and social standards across DA projects.
The DA faces a major task: of the 131,000 kilometers of rural roads identified in the national FMR roadmap, more than 60,000 kilometers still need to be built. These roads are key to lowering transport costs, reducing post-harvest losses, and speeding up the movement of goods.
Beyond roads, the DA is also expanding food hubs, cold storage facilities, and rice mills. France has pledged support for about 300 steel bridges in 52 provinces to help farmers in remote areas.
The new Interim Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Unit will lead oversight efforts. It will institutionalize tools first used under the World Bank–supported Philippine Rural Development Project—such as environmental assessments, social risk reviews, and stakeholder engagement—and apply them across all DA offices and regional units as the agency scales up climate-resilient programs.
The SES Unit will develop a department-wide safeguards roadmap, unify standards, embed safeguards in planning and procurement, and ensure compliance with national rules and development-partner requirements. A nationwide network of trained safeguards officers will operate at central and regional levels.
The unit will also coordinate with agencies such as the DENR, NCIP, and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, as well as partners like the World Bank and IFAD. The move follows a World Bank recommendation to establish permanent safeguards positions under the PRDP Scale-Up.
The SES Unit will be led by a supervisor and senior specialists at the national level, with regional teams headed by junior specialists. Tiu Laurel said the strengthened structure is essential as the DA pursues “sustainable, accountable, and community-protective” development. The administrative order creating the unit takes effect immediately.
