MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formally accepted the Senate’s challenge to take the lead in constructing farm-to-market roads (FMRs), taking over a responsibility long handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on Friday, October 10, for the DA’s proposed 2026 budget, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the agency’s readiness to manage FMR projects aimed at promoting rural development, increasing farmers’ incomes, and ensuring a steady supply of affordable food.

“At the last Senate hearing on the Department of Agriculture’s 2026 budget, we were issued a direct challenge: to take charge of farm-to-market road projects ourselves,” Tiu Laurel said. Referring to the controversy surrounding DPWH infrastructure projects, he added, “Instinct tells us to steer clear. To play it safe. But this is no time for hesitation… and so, we rise to meet the moment.”

The decision came amid growing concerns about alleged misuse of public funds in past FMR projects handled by the DPWH. Finance Committee Chair Senator Win Gatchalian earlier flagged possible overpricing of up to P10 billion in the construction of 70,000 kilometers of roads—an amount he said could have built a two-lane highway from Manila to Aparri.

“These are roads the nation paid for—yet many of our farmers have yet to walk on them,” Gatchalian said.

The senator welcomed the DA’s move to directly implement the FMR program, expressing confidence that Secretary Tiu Laurel’s private sector experience would help lower costs and expand coverage. “More importantly, this will make it easier to establish accountability… not just within the DA, but across all involved agencies,” he added.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Finance Subcommittee J, also expressed optimism that the DA would perform better in building farm-to-market roads. He commended the agency’s plan to adopt a citizen participatory audit system to enhance transparency and accountability.

“As they say, in crisis there is opportunity. Hopefully, moving forward we can make the most out of every peso allocated to the DA and its attached agencies, and ensure that it is money well spent,” Pangilinan said.

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the DA will collaborate closely with local government units, farmers’ organizations, and independent auditors to ensure that FMR projects are transparent, accountable, and aligned with community needs.

“This mandate is too large, too critical, and too prone to misuse to be entrusted to a single agency,” the agriculture chief said. “Para sa bayan, hindi namin tatalikuran ang hamon ng panahon,” he added.