Senator Francis Pangilinan warned that individuals who attempt to steal or misuse funds for farm-to-market roads (FMRs) will be held accountable and could be summoned to Senate hearings.
Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, food, and agrarian reform, said evidence is already being prepared for the filing of cases against those implicated in FMR projects under investigation for alleged corruption.
“We have put in place several safeguards para talagang matiyak [na walang magiging korapsyon]… ‘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.
Under the proposed 2026 national budget, P33 billion has been allocated for FMRs, funding the construction of about 1,600 new roads this year.
Amid public concern over alleged corruption in infrastructure projects, the Department of Agriculture announced last October that it will take over the development and construction of FMRs from the Department of Public Works and Highways starting in 2026.
That same month, Malacañang Palace said the DA and DPWH would investigate P105 million worth of alleged “ghost” or non-existent FMR projects, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had received the Agriculture Department’s report on the issue.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said the national FMR roadmap shows a need for 131,000 kilometers of rural roads, with more than 60,000 kilometers still to be built. He also assured that FMRs included in the 2026 budget were properly costed, following claims by the People’s Budget Coalition that over 800 projects had “very round numbers,” raising concerns about cost validation.
Pangilinan said safeguards against fund misuse include an online monitoring dashboard, geotagging, and citizens’ participatory audits. He added that the DA will be required to validate project details such as actual costs, designs, programs, and budgets to ensure proper implementation.
The senator also urged the private sector, local government units, and other stakeholders to report any irregularities in FMR projects, stressing that authorities will closely monitor implementation.
Farm-to-market roads are intended to connect agricultural and fisheries production areas, coastal landing sites, and post-harvest facilities to markets and major highways, reducing transport costs and helping farmers increase their incomes.
