THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it has signed an agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 605 farm-to-market road (FMR) projects worth P9.06 billion in Luzon.
The roads span 604 kilometers across 26 provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.The agreement was signed on Oct. 5 at the DPWH headquarters in Manila, with Agriculture Undersecretary Arrey Perez and DPWH officer in charge Undersecretary Lara Marisse Esquibil as witnesses.Perez said the projects would improve the movement of agricultural products and strengthen links between farmers and markets.Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said better roads would lower hauling costs, improve access to buyers and farm inputs, and help raise farmers’ incomes.The projects form part of the DA’s farm-to-market road program under the 2026 national budget, which will fund more than 1,600 projects covering about 2,200 kilometers nationwide.The DA said improved roads would also connect farmers to traders, processors and consumers while expanding rural communities’ access to services and economic opportunities.The public can monitor implementation through FMR Watch, the DA’s online transparency portal. Users can track project progress, view updates, and upload photos and feedback.
