Senator Pangilinan warns against misuse of P33 billion farm-to-market road funds

Philippine Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday (January 16) issued a stern warning against any attempt to steal or misuse funds allocated for the government’s P33-billion farm-to-market road (FMR) program, emphasizing that anyone involved in corrupt practices that deprive farmers of essential infrastructure will be held accountable.

“We have put in place several safeguards para talagang matiyak (na walang magiging korapsyon),” he said in a radio interview. “At sana, palagay ko naman itong pakiusap rin natin at siguro warning na rin na tayo mismo bilang chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, hindi tayo papayag sa kalokohan.”

“Babantayan natin yan. Kaya sabi nga, wag na nila subukan dahil makakatikim sila. Papatawag natin sila sa Senado. Pagpapaliwanagin natin sila. Isu-subpoena natin sila kung kinakailangan kapag nakita natin na may mga kalokohan.”

The 2026 budget for farm-to-market roads in the Philippines was raised to approximately ₱33 billion in the final bicameral-approved budget, a substantial increase from the ₱16 billion originally proposed in the 2026 National Expenditure Program. This effectively doubles the allocation for FMR projects under the Department of Agriculture for next year.

The additional funding is meant to finance the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of rural farm-to-market roads across the country, though lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding project validation and transparency associated with the increased allocation.

FMRs are essential for linking rural communities and agricultural areas to markets, schools, and health services in the Philippines. However, the program has faced a range of challenges, including alleged corruption and mismanagement in project bidding and funding, substandard construction, and poor maintenance.

Delays in implementation have also been reported, while political influence has sometimes determined where projects are prioritized, favoring areas connected to lawmakers rather than those most in need.

Many FMRs also remain vulnerable to natural hazards such as flooding and landslides, limiting farmers’ access to markets and reducing the overall impact of rural infrastructure investments.

Pangilinan, who defended the 2026 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, said that special provisions—including an online dashboard, geotagging, and citizens’ participatory audit—have been put in place to protect the P33-billion fund from misappropriation.

The FMR projects will now be implemented by the DA, after previously falling under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to address the 60,000-kilometer FMR backlog. The initiative aims to boost rural development, ensure food security, and increase farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes.

Aside from these safeguards, Pangilinan vowed that the DA will be required to validate each project’s actual cost, detailed engineering design, program of works, approved budget for contract, prevailing market prices, standards unit cost, and site-specific conditions.

He also highlighted the role of the private sector and local government units (LGUs) in competitive bidding, noting that the provision was modeled after the program of former Department of Education (DepEd) chief Armin Luistro, who reportedly constructed 600 school buildings nearly every week during the Aquino administration through private sector-LGU partnerships.

The senator further called on the public to remain vigilant over infrastructure projects in their areas.

“Kaya panawagan din sa ating mga nasa LGU, sa private sector, ang ating mga citizens groups: ang ating tanggapan ay tanggapan ninyo sa pagbabantay. Let us know kung may mga hindi impormasyong hindi tama ang pag-implimenta,” he said.

“Babantayan natin yan. Kaya ang panawagan natin sa mga magiimplimenta nito ay wag niyo nang itangkang gamitin itong mga pondong ito para sa kurakot dahil hahabulin namin kayo,” Pangilinan added.

He also said he will follow up on DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s commitment to complete a review of FMR projects that may have been overpriced within the first quarter of 2026.

Pangilinan revealed that some FMR projects have already been flagged for possible corruption, with evidence being prepared for the filing of cases. Laurel earlier disclosed that some projects from the previous year were overpriced by at least 20% per kilometer.

-Paraluman News