THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said that it had approved over P2.06 billion worth of farm-to-market road (FMR) and bridge projects to lower logistics costs and improve market access for farmers and fisherfolk.
The projects are primarily being funded through the World Bank-supported Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Scale-Up. It covers over 66 kilometers of roads and 310 linear meters of bridges across the provinces of Bukidnon, Masbate, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro, Samar and Zambales.
The DA said the approval was in line with intensified government efforts to strengthen the country’s agri-food supply chain, noting that poor rural infrastructure is continuing to raise transport costs, cause post-harvest losses and limit farmers’ competitiveness.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the projects were crucial as the package includes long farm-to-market roads — the longest stretching as far as 26 kilometers — and bridges that connect farming communities to markets.
Bridges, he added, will be the most transformative component as these will replace dangerous river crossings during times of bad weather.
Aside from roads and bridges, the PRDP Scale-Up infrastructure package also includes irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities. The DA said this was important as it would strengthen the entire agricultural value chain instead of just resolving individual bottlenecks.
Tiu Laurel said the PRDP Scale-Up remained one of the government’s most stringent foreign-assisted programs as projects under it must meet strict World Bank standards.
Nonetheless, he said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had instructed concerned agencies to expedite implementation as the projects are urgently needed by rural communities.
The DA said it aimed to award all remaining PRDP projects before the year ends.
“I’m sure these projects will improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, lower their expenses, and give them better access to markets,” Tiu Laurel said.
He also thanked the World Bank for its sustained assistance and said that the Washington-based lender was willing to expand funding support for Philippine agriculture.
Local government units, meanwhile, were urged to continue preparing projects that adhere to World Bank requirements to expedite project approvals.
“With more infrastructure projects moving into construction, the DA is betting that improved farm connectivity, modern post-harvest facilities, and improved irrigation will strengthen food supply chains, raise rural productivity, and ultimately help ease pressure on food prices,” the Agriculture department said.
