DA launches portal so Filipinos can track FMR roads

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is giving the public a front-row seat to watch how farm-to-market road (FMR) projects are being built across the country. Starting next month, citizens can check the progress and funding of these projects online through a new platform called FMR Watch.

At a media briefing on Thursday, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) Director Cristy Polido said the platform was developed in-house and will act as a central hub for all FMR projects funded by the government.

“This is developed as part of our advocacy for transparency and accountability in the implementation of FMR,” Polido said.

The website is already available in beta form, with a full public launch set for February. It will show project details like location, budget, contractor, start date, and how much of the work is complete. Outcome indicators, such as how many farmers and communities benefit from each road, will also be posted.

Polido said the portal “can be accessed by all stakeholders,” including citizens, local government units, and civil society groups, letting everyone monitor projects in real time.

From 2021 to 2025, the government spent about P76 billion on nearly 4,800 FMR projects, all of which will appear on the site.

Projects funded for 2026, now under DA’s direct management, will also be uploaded once finalized.

The platform also allows public participation. Citizens can upload photos and videos to report delays or concerns, while each project comes with a QR code that links directly to its dedicated page.

Data on the site show that in the last five years, FMR projects covered 2,400 kilometers, connected 2,400 communities, helped 721,500 farmers, transported 240,000 tons of agricultural goods, and saved about 7,800 hours in travel time.

Yet the country still faces a backlog of roughly 60,000 kilometers of roads needing construction.