Only 65 percent of farm-to-market roads completed in 5 years

Only 65 percent of the 4,810 farm-to-market road (FMR) projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were completed from 2021 to 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Only 3,135 projects were completed in the past five years, according to preliminary FMR data the DA shared with the media through its transparency platform, which is currently in beta testing.

Data showed that at least 817 FMR projects have not commenced while 34 projects have been deferred, according to the DA.

Meanwhile, there are at least 677 ongoing funded FMR projects during the five-year period.

There are still at least 27 FMR projects funded in 2021 that are ongoing while there are three more financed in 2022 that are yet to be completed, based on the database.

Data also showed that there are still 28 ongoing FMR projects funded in 2023, 213 projects in 2024 and 406 projects under the 2025 budget.

The DA is updating and refining the database since it is still in its beta stage. The DA plans to publicly launch the transparency platform, dubbed FMR Watch, by February.

The platform features real-time project monitoring and updates as well as detailed financial information and budget for every FMR project. The public can access these for free and is encouraged to scrutinize the FMR projects and subsequently provide feedback and even complaints to the DA.

Each project has been geotagged with proper progress documentation from the start of procurement up to its completion.

The DA vowed to respond to citizens’ complaints regarding FMR projects within 24 hours once the transparency portal has been rolled out.

Throughout the five-year period, the government allocated P76.52 billion for all the 4,810 FMR projects. The 3,135 completed FMR projects were equivalent to nearly 2,400 kilometers of road.

Based on its estimates, at least 721,500 farmers have benefitted from the completed FMR projects across 2,400 communities nationwide, saving them 7,800 hours in transportation time while allowing them to move 240,000 metric tons of produce, according to the DA.

Central Luzon had the top budget allocation for FMR projects at P9 billion followed by the Bicol Region at P7.7 billion and Ilocos Region at P7.4 billion.

The DA assured the public that it has all the capabilities to undertake the completion of FMR projects this year worth P33 billion. 

The implementation of the FMR projects has been transferred to the DA following the controversies and issues surrounding DPWH’s infrastructure projects.

The DA also vowed to construct cheaper but still quality FMRs this year as it seeks to build more roads with its budget. The DA said its FMR projects will cost less than the P15 million per kilometer allocated budget in the past.

Source: Philstar