News Details

DA Backs Farm-to-Market Road Equity Act to Bridge 36,000-Kilometer Gap

NPO

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September 5, 2025

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has called on Congress to pass the proposed Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR) Development and Equity Act, a measure designed to close the country’s massive 36,000-kilometer backlog in rural road networks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the vital role of FMRs in meeting the Marcos administration’s food security goals, describing them as the “backbone” of the agricultural value chain.

“Farm-to-market roads bring down consumer costs, raise farmer incomes, and spur growth in the countryside,” Laurel said in a statement Thursday.

Under the DA’s six-year master plan, the backlog could be substantially addressed, helping farmers and fisherfolk reduce post-harvest losses, improve profitability, and boost connectivity in hard-to-reach communities.

“Every kilometer of FMR we build is a pathway out of poverty,” Laurel added. “But with a backlog this big, we need a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable approach. This bill provides that framework.”

The proposed law also introduces an equitable allocation system: at least 30 percent of the FMR budget will be directed to provinces with high poverty incidence, particularly in rural areas. Other budget shares will be guided by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development and Regional Development Councils.

Priority sites include major commodity zones, fisheries areas, livestock clusters, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), such as upland barangays and island municipalities. Identification will be carried out jointly by the DA, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the National Livestock Program.

“This legislation lays down more than just roads,” Laurel stressed. “It builds stronger foundations for food security, equity, and national development.”

NPO News Team | PNA-PR