The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formally welcomed the support of budget monitoring group People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) in overseeing the implementation of the government’s farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, citing enhanced accountability, proper use of public funds, and stronger rural development as key benefits.
In a statement released Thursday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed appreciation for the coalition’s offer to assist with verification and monitoring efforts, noting that citizen participation ensures funds are spent as intended and deliver tangible gains for agricultural communities and the broader public. FMRs are designed to cut farmers’ transport and production costs, secure better selling prices, and lift household incomes, while also boosting food security and linking rural areas to wider economic opportunities.
PBC Co-convenor Kenneth Isaiah Abante commended the DA for launching the Farm-To-Markets Road Watch, noting the agency has posted details of 3,455 completed projects out of 6,428 total initiatives valued at P110 billion, covering nearly 2,700 kilometers, on its official website. At the same time, the coalition observed that only 24 reports have been submitted by citizen inspectors through the program’s electronic portal so far, and offered to deploy its more than 200 volunteers to help confirm that projects are built in line with contract specifications.
Secretary Tiu Laurel stated the DA fully supports efforts that enable the public to keep public spending on track, saying such oversight helps ensure resources reach their intended beneficiaries—from agricultural workers to rural residents who stand to gain from improved infrastructure.
Earlier this month, the DA and the Department of Public Works and Highways signed a memorandum of agreement covering 605 FMR projects worth P9.06 billion across Luzon. The initiative covers the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon regions, spanning 26 provinces to connect key production zones with markets. This funding supports critical road links in major agricultural areas of northern Luzon, where poor road conditions have historically raised hauling costs, restricted access to buyers, and delayed delivery of essential supplies such as seeds and fertilizer. Better connections will not only speed the movement of rice, vegetables, fruits, livestock, and other goods but also link producers to processors and consumers while expanding access to services and livelihood opportunities in rural communities.
Additional funding for the broader national FMR program is included in the 2026 national budget, supporting more than 1,600 projects covering approximately 2,200 kilometers of rural roads nationwide. The DA noted it already uses established monitoring systems and a digital tracking portal to follow project progress from planning through construction, with PBC’s participation expected to strengthen these oversight efforts further.
