Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected a P14.9 million farm-to-market road project in Davao del Norte, as the government ramps up a nationwide audit following the transfer of agricultural road development to the Department of Agriculture.
The officials visited an 800-meter concrete road in Barangay New Casayuran, completed in July by the Department of Public Works and Highways regional office.
The project features a 5-meter-wide, 0.23-meter-thick pavement designed to improve farm access and cut transport costs for local producers—key to reducing post-harvest losses and improving margins. The road currently supports about 50 hectares planted with rice, coconut, banana and vegetables, with an additional 40 hectares seen for potential development.
The inspection is part of a review to tighten oversight as responsibility for farm-to-market roads shifts from the DPWH to the DA, a move intended to better align infrastructure spending with agricultural priorities and supply chain requirements.
“This audit is critical to ensure that all FMR projects deliver real value to farmers,” Tiu Laurel said, citing persistent connectivity gaps that continue to constrain rural productivity and incomes.
The DA estimates the country needs about 131,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads to fully support agricultural supply chains, with more than 60,000 kilometers still unbuilt, underscoring a significant infrastructure gap that has long weighed on farm competitiveness.
For 2026, the farm-to-market road budget has been doubled to P33 billion, enough to fund around 2,300 kilometers of new roads. The DA said the expanded program is expected to unlock idle agricultural land and support higher-value crops such as coffee, potentially boosting both domestic supply and export prospects.
Further inspections will be carried out nationwide, focusing on completion rates, build quality, timeliness and long-term usability. These factors are expected to determine whether higher spending translates into tangible gains in farm productivity and rural incomes.
