House proposes P32.6B for farm-to-market roads in 2026 budget

The proposed budget for farm-to-market roads (FMR) for 2026 has nearly doubled to P32.6 billion in the General Appropriations Bill passed by the House of Representatives, up from P16 billion in the National Expenditure Program.

Senators, led by Finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) about the inclusion of P8 billion worth of FMRs in its budget.

Gatchalian expressed concern that these funds might not be utilized effectively as they are not part of the agency's master plan for agricultural needs.

The implementation of FMR projects has been transferred from the DPWH to the Department of Agriculture (DA) due to alleged anomalies and overpricing in the DPWH's past projects.

Gatchalian stated that this transfer aims to address issues within the DPWH and streamline the FMR program under the DA.