DA to start construction of stalled FMR projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is targeting to begin construction of farm-to-market (FMR) roads by August, as the agency takes over works for the stalled projects.

DA assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the agency is set to begin bidding for the FMR projects starting June 4, with construction starting within the next two months.

De Mesa said the DA would bid out an FMR project to support coffee farms in Sultan Kudarat costing up to P2 billion.

The agency will also bid out a road project in Clark, Pampanga for the DA’s food hub worth from P2 billion to P4 billion, along with cold storage facilities worth between P100 million to P500 million.

“Normally bidding lasts for about one to two months, so by August we can begin construction,” he said in a press briefing yesterday.

He added that bidding for FMR projects for other regions have started or expected to begin within the month.

“If they have concerns and they want us to handle the bidding process for them, we can handle that,” he said.

De Mesa added that costs for the construction of roads may be as low as P10 million per kilometer to up to P20 million, depending on the specific area.

Previously, FMR projects costs were uniformed at P15 million per kilometer under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The DA was allocated P33 billion for FMR projects under the 2026 budget, targeting to construct 1,605 road works, covering more than 2,300 kilometers of farm roads.

He added that projects under the 2026 General Appropriations Act carry a two-year validity, requiring all projects to be completed by December 2027.

Bidding for these projects however were stalled as the DA assumed the construction and implementation of FMR projects previously held by the DPWH, following a massive corruption scandal.

The DA earlier filed eight cases against DPWH due to P94 million worth of anomalous FMR projects in Davao Occidental.

De Mesa noted that all bidding for FMR projects would now be livestreamed to the public as part of its transparency measures.