The Department of Agriculture (DA) has demanded an explanation over “non-existent” and unfinished farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the Davao Region, summoning Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers and contractors to account for the delays.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will coordinate with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and his team to determine why FMRs funded in 2021 and 2022 remain either “non-existent” or are only now being completed.
Tiu Laurel said one project was “nowhere to be found,” while another had “freshly poured cement,” indicating that construction had just started despite being due for completion years ago.
He said the DA will summon the three contractors involved and hold those responsible for the delays accountable. Each project costs between PHP12 million and PHP15 million and spans at least one kilometer.
The move follows Tiu Laurel’s inspection of two out of three incomplete FMRs in the region this week as part of the DA’s nationwide audit of agriculture infrastructure projects.
The DA’s regional field offices earlier flagged the projects, which should have been completed in 2021.
Tiu Laurel said the findings highlight the need for stricter monitoring and transparency in project implementation.
He added that farmers he met during the inspection stressed that FMR roads are vital for lowering production costs and increasing income.
Laurel is set to meet with Dizon next week to discuss the audit findings and identify possible administrative or legal actions.
So far, the agency has completed about 70,000 kilometers of the targeted 131,000-km FMR network, designed to connect agricultural production areas directly to markets.
The DA eyes to complete the nationwide FMR audit by year-end to ensure infrastructure funds directly benefit farmers and strengthen the value chain.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.