House minority seeks probe into alleged overpriced farm-to-market road projects

The House minority bloc has urged Congress to investigate alleged overpriced farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Under House Resolution 421, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co are seeking an immediate and comprehensive investigation into alleged systematic corruption.

The lawmakers cited that the estimated average cost of a farm-to-market road is P9.486 million per kilometer, P6.4 million less than the DA’s National Farm-to-Market Roads Network Plan (NFMRNP) for 2023–2028, which proposes a budget of P15.91 million per kilometer.

The FMR Network Plan was published on 20 June 2023 by the DA, DPWH, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Tourism.

The minority bloc noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. served as agriculture secretary from June 2022 to November 2023.

“There is a need to thoroughly scrutinize the National FMR Network Plan 2023–2028, formulated and finalized during the stint of Pres. Marcos Jr. as Agriculture Secretary, and more importantly, to conduct a thorough investigation into all farm-to-market roads for possible overpricing and corruption,” the House resolution stated.

The solons are urging the House Committees on Public Accounts and on Agriculture and Food to look into the matter, amid ongoing scrutiny of alleged corruption in flood control projects.

“In light of the exposition of widespread and systemic corruption in the government, it is imperative for Congress to expose and hold accountable all those involved, as it is unconscionable that billions of people’s money are lost to corruption instead of being used for the benefit of the Filipino people,” the lawmakers stated.