CLAVERIA, CAGAYAN – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a strict end to the “palakasan” or favoritism system in the selection and approval of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, following reports of “ghost” roads worth millions of pesos in different parts of the country.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Dam in the towns of Union and Cadcadir, Marcos said that under his administration, political influence will no longer determine where FMR projects are built. Instead, only technically justified and strategically planned projects will be approved.
“Pupuntahan din natin ang mga mayor natin, ang mga governor para itanong kung ‘yung plano namin ay maganda, kung tama ang dinadaanan nung farm-to-market roads, kung ano ‘yung suggestion nila,” the President told farmers at the event.
He stressed that the government’s priority is to eliminate wasteful and misplaced projects that do not benefit farmers.
“At ‘yun ang sinusunod natin na plano eh, hindi lang ‘yung kagaya dati na palakasan lang, ‘yung nakikiusap lang, oh lagyan ko farm-to-market ito… Pag medyo kaibigan, pag medyo kapartido, oh sige approved. Walang plano. Kung minsan kung saan-saan napupunta ang farm-to-market roads eh. Hindi naman ito nakakatulong sa ating mga magsasaka,” Marcos said.
P105-M Ghost Roads Under Probe
The President’s remarks came amid ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in FMR projects. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are currently looking into about P105 million worth of projects in Mindanao that were declared completed but could not be physically verified.
According to DA records, the questionable projects — seven in total — were supposedly implemented between 2021 and 2023. Auditors found discrepancies between reported completion and the actual existence of the infrastructure, prompting a nationwide review of all FMR projects.
Integrated Infrastructure Push
Marcos also highlighted the “Katubigan” or Kalsada Tungo sa Patubigan program, a joint effort between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the DPWH that integrates road and irrigation development.
One of its flagship initiatives is the Small Reservoir Impounding Project (SRIP) in Claveria, designed to improve irrigation, prevent flooding, and increase agricultural productivity.
The President said such integrated and well-planned efforts will define his administration’s infrastructure policy moving forward.
“We are now focused on building projects that are both strategic and beneficial to our farmers,” he said, emphasizing that transparency and long-term planning will replace political convenience in project implementation./PN
