Marcos orders DA to fast-track, clean up farm-to-market road projects

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture to ensure the swift and transparent completion of farm-to-market road projects, underscoring his administration’s push for accountability and efficiency in infrastructure development.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the President made it clear that farm-to-market road projects must be implemented with integrity and speed, now that the DA has full responsibility over their construction.

“Unang-una, pangalan ko po at pangalan ng ating Pangulo ang nakataya dito at ang ating Pangulo ay talagang malinaw ang direktiba sa aming lahat: ‘Keep it clean, do it fast,’” Tiu Laurel said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday.

The directive comes as the DA received a significant budget increase under the proposed P6.79-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act, with the agency allocated P215 billion. The increased funding reflects the administration’s commitment to food security, rural development, and boosting agricultural productivity.

Tiu Laurel stressed that the DA is determined to prevent irregularities that plagued previous infrastructure initiatives, particularly flood control projects. He assured the public that proper costing and transparent processes would guide the implementation of farm-to-market roads.

Unlike in previous administrations, the DA will move away from uniform costing practices and instead adopt project-specific cost assessments to ensure accuracy and value for money, he said.

To further strengthen transparency, Tiu Laurel said he has engaged the private sector and held consultations with reputable companies to review cost figures and prevent overpricing. He also said civil society groups are being tapped to help monitor the projects.

“As of today, civil society groups are meeting in our office and are willing to sign a memorandum of agreement with us to help monitor these projects. It will be very transparent—every single Filipino can actually go to the portal and see what is happening to every single road being built,” Tiu Laurel said.

The agriculture secretary said these measures aim to ensure that farm-to-market roads are completed efficiently, free from corruption, and in a manner that directly benefits farmers and rural communities nationwide.