Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA) expects to save at least 20 percent in construction costs once it takes over the farm-to-market road (FMR) program from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) starting next year.
“If Congress allows us under the 2026 national budget, we can use those savings to build more roads—helping farmers and fisherfolk cut production costs, reach markets faster, earn more, and ultimately lower food prices,” Tiu Laurel said.
The current cost of building a kilometer of a concrete, two-lane FMR averages around P15 million. According to Tiu Laurel, the DA’s internal management and use of new technologies could bring that down to P12 million or even lower if we use different methods or techniques such as soil stabilizers where it is suitable in certain areas.
The Marcos administration initially proposed P16 billion for FMR projects in 2026, enough to build roughly 1,000 kilometers of rural roads. The House of Representatives has since doubled that amount to P32 billion, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to realign flood-control funds to priority agricultural infrastructure.
With double the budget and cost-cutting measures in place, the DA hopes to accelerate market connectivity for rural producers, boosting farm incomes while helping stabilize food prices for consumers.
To ensure transparency and speed, Tiu Laurel said the DA will work closely with local governments, civil society organizations, and the Philippine Army’s Corps of Engineers. “We want every peso to go to real roads that benefit real farmers—not into the pockets of corrupt officials,” he stressed.
The DA’s master plan identifies about 131,000 kilometers of potential FMRs nationwide, of which around 70,000 kilometers have been completed. At the current pace, full completion could take 60 years.
“We can cut that time in half with stronger coordination and smarter spending,” Tiu Laurel said. “Every road we build brings us closer to making farming truly profitable and food more affordable for every Filipino.”
