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Agri dep’t orders audit of farm-to-market roads
House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Sergio Dagooc is set to file a case against National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen before the Ombudsman for alleged failure to provide requested information.
Dagooc seeks NIA's quarterly report and a certification from the Department of Agriculture regarding areas recommended for irrigation.
The lawmaker raised concerns about alleged 'farm-to-cockpit' roads being funded instead of farm-to-market roads, citing evidence.
He also questioned NIA's implementation of irrigation projects, citing an example in Dinagat where irrigation was installed without a water source.
Guillen stated that the agency performance review was submitted to the Department of Budget and Management and will also be provided to the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. ordered an audit of all farm-to-market road projects since 2021.
The DA stated that it validates FMR projects, though they are commissioned, bid out, and constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Laurel aims for the FMR audit to be completed by the end of this year and will report any issues to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
The DA allocated P16 billion for FMRs in 2026, a significant decrease from the P56 billion requested.
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