The Department of Agriculture (DA) has cleared over P2.06 billion worth of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and bridges for construction across six provinces, aimed at cutting logistics costs and helping farmers and fisherfolk reach markets more easily.
Announced Monday, the projects cover 66 kilometers of roads and 310 linear meters of bridges in Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Samar, Bukidnon, and North Cotabato. They are mostly funded under the World Bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Scale-Up.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted the package includes roads as long as 26 kilometers, while bridges will replace dangerous or flood-prone river crossings that often isolate communities during bad weather. “These projects will improve lives, lower expenses, and give better market access,” he said.
The move forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the agri-food supply chain, where poor rural infrastructure currently raises transport costs, increases post-harvest losses, and reduces farmers’ competitiveness. Alongside roads and bridges, PRDP Scale-Up also covers irrigation and post-harvest facilities to support the full agricultural value chain.
Laurel acknowledged the program follows strict World Bank standards, but ordered faster rollout given urgent rural needs. The DA aims to award all remaining PRDP projects before year-end. He also thanked the World Bank for its continued support, noting the lender is open to expanding assistance as results are seen, and urged local governments to prepare projects that meet required standards for faster approval.
