DA farm-to-market road takeover expected to cut costs 20%, accelerate completion

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it expects to speed up construction and save at least 20% once it takes over the farm-to-market road (FMR) program from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) next year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was quoted in a statement as saying the savings could allow the DA to build more rural roads with its funding, helping farmers and fisherfolk cut production costs, reach markets faster, and ultimately lower food prices.

The DA said in a statement that building a kilometer of paved, two-lane FMR currently costs around P15 million. With improved internal management and the use of soil stabilizers, the DA aims to reduce the cost to P12 million or less.

The DA’s master plan identifies about 131,000 kilometers of potential FMRs, with around 70,000 kilometers already completed.

At the current pace, completing the network could take 60 years, but the DA said it could cut the timeline in half with stronger coordination and smarter spending.

The government initially proposed P16 billion for FMR projects in 2026, enough to construct around 1,000 kilometers of rural roads. The House of Representatives doubled the allocation to P32 billion, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to redirect flood control funds to priority farm infrastructure. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel