MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has uncovered at least P75 million worth of farm-to-market roads in Mindanao that exist only on paper, raising fresh concerns over government spending on rural infrastructure.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. disclosed on Tuesday that an initial audit flagged questionable projects in Region XI and Zamboanga City covering roughly five kilometers of supposed roads built between 2021 and 2022.
“Sa ngayon initial reports pa lang at hindi naman ganoon kalaki in terms of the whole FMR projects, isolated case pa ang nakita namin sa Region XI at meron din sa may Zamboanga City,” Tiu Laurel said in a radio interview.
The agriculture chief estimated the value of the ghost projects at around ₱75 million. “We’re talking about maybe five kilometers ang nakikita namin, ‘yun pa lang so initial pa lang to. ‘Yung value noon nasa P75 million siguro,” he added.
Tiu Laurel stressed that the contracts were awarded to small players, not to big construction firms earlier flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for cornering government projects.
“Ah wala, per kilometer nito nasa P15 million lang eh, this is a very small contract,” he said.
He also clarified that the projects were not questionable “insertions” in the budget. “I don’t think this is an insertion, nasa GAA namin to basically… but of course implementing agency nito DPWH,” Tiu Laurel explained, adding that he has already coordinated with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.
The DA chief said Marcos has been verbally informed of the findings and will receive a written report on October 1. “Na-inform ko na verbally si Presidente tungkol diyan and I’ll have a formal report submitted tomorrow to the Office of the President. Initial findings lang,” he noted.
The DA’s comprehensive review of farm-to-market roads, covering projects from 2021 onward, is expected to be completed by year-end. While the DA conducts validation, actual bidding and construction are handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways./PN
