News Details

DA to Hold DPWH, Contractors Accountable for Unfinished Farm-to-Market Roads in Davao Region

NPO

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October 25, 2025

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) will summon contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers over the delay and incomplete construction of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the Davao Region, following a recent inspection by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The inspection, part of a nationwide audit of FMR projects, revealed two out of three unfinished roads that were supposed to be completed as early as 2021. Laurel said the DA will seek formal explanations from the DPWH district engineers assigned during 2021 and 2022, in coordination with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and his new team.

“We will ask the DPWH engineers and contractors responsible to explain why some FMRs are either non-existent or only now being completed,” Laurel stated.

A meeting between the DA and DPWH leadership is scheduled next week to address the audit findings and discuss accountability measures. The DA also plans to summon the three contractors involved in the incomplete projects, each costing between ₱12 million and ₱15 million and spanning at least one kilometer.

One of the inspected roads was reported as “nowhere to be found,” while another showed freshly poured cement, suggesting construction was only recently initiated.

Importance of FMRs to Rural Development

Secretary Laurel emphasized that farm-to-market roads are vital to improving farmers’ access to markets, reducing transport costs, and boosting agricultural productivity.

“The farmers I met during the inspection underscored how important these FMR projects are for their livelihood. These roads help lower production costs and increase income,” he said.

Nationwide, about 70,000 kilometers of FMRs have been completed out of the 131,000-kilometer target, as part of the government’s continuing effort to link production areas directly to markets and strengthen the agricultural value chain.

The DA’s audit of FMR projects is expected to conclude by year-end, with findings to guide the agency’s coordination with the DPWH and ensure that future infrastructure programs deliver tangible benefits to farmers and rural communities.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR