MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned against any attempt to steal or misuse funds allocated for the government’s P33-billion farm-to-market road (FMR) program, saying those involved in corruption will be pursued and held accountable.

“We have put in place several safeguards para talagang matiyak (na walang magiging korapsyon),” Pangilinan 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,” he added.

Pangilinan, who defended the 2026 budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, said special provisions have been included to safeguard the P33-billion FMR fund. These include an online dashboard, geotagging, and a citizens’ participatory audit for the implementation of FMR projects.

Under the 2026 budget, FMR projects will be implemented by the DA after previously being under the Department of Public Works and Highways. The program aims to address a 60,000-kilometer FMR backlog to boost rural development, ensure food security, and increase the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk.

The senator said the DA will also be required to validate actual project costs, detailed engineering designs, programs of work, approved budgets for contract, prevailing market prices, standard unit costs, and site-specific conditions, among others.

Pangilinan also highlighted the role of the private sector and local government units in competitive bidding, noting that the provision was modeled after a program under former Department of Education secretary Armin Luistro, which saw the construction of about 600 school buildings nearly every week through private sector-LGU partnerships during the Aquino administration.

He likewise 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,” Pangilinan 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,” he added.

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

He said some FMR projects have already been flagged for possible corruption, with evidence being prepared for the filing of cases. Earlier, Laurel disclosed that some FMR projects last year were overpriced by at least 20 percent per kilometer.