Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced Wednesday the agency will implement farm-to-market road projects covering about 2,600 kilometers under a P32-billion budget.
He said this aims to address a national backlog estimated at 60,000 kilometers, with priority given to Ilocos Norte and other identified areas.
Tiu Laurel said all projects would undergo thorough vetting before implementation to ensure quality and prevent overpricing.
Under the revised plan, the average cost per kilometer was reduced to P12 million from previous rates that reached P15 million.
He said the budget is designed to cover only construction costs and contractors’ profit.
“If it’s not vetted, we will not implement it. We want to make sure everything is in order,” Tiu Laurel said.
He said the funds could not be treated as a new pork barrel because there is no additional budget for sharing, but only for proper project execution.
The agency will use a combination of approaches for implementation, he said.
Local government units will handle construction, while the Department of Agriculture provides oversight through third-party auditors. To ensure transparency, civil society organizations including Citizen Watch and church groups will monitor the developments.
Technical standards will be strictly enforced using 5 to 7 standard road designs tailored to specific terrains.
Quality checks will include cement specifications and density testing to ensure durability. Audits show most projects are currently compliant, though five sites in Davao Occidental are undergoing further review.
