Albay: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is investigating the implementation of a farm-to-market road project intended to improve market access for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses in an agricultural town in Albay, agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday inspected a suspected "ghost" FMR project in Barangay Lower Binogsacan, Guinobatan, Albay, casting fresh scrutiny on a 1-kilometer-long, 5-meter-wide access road that was supposed to ease farmers' transport woes even before the pandemic.
According to Philippines News Agency, initial validation by the DA's Internal Audit Service in November found that the FMR was not implemented at its approved site. Secretary Tiu Laurel noted during the site inspection that there was confusion regarding the project's timeline and location. "Actually, that's what was said earlier, that we are looking for it because apparently it appears that it's 2019, but we are looking for 2021. So far, this is all we have been told, so our main concern is that the FMR that is supposed to be transferred should be here, but it is not here," he stated.
He emphasized the importance of FMRs to farmers and the community, noting that roads directly affect farmers' income by reducing transport costs. He illustrated the impact by highlighting how transportation costs can significantly alter profit margins for farmers. "Well, first of all, let's say those coconut farms-how can they bring their produce down here if there are no roads? Maybe it's PHP5 per kilo, your fee or charge, but if there is a tricycle there, maybe it's only PHP2, and the extra PHP3 will go to the farmers. If the price of fertilizer goes up, if the price of seeds goes up, how much is that? So the benefits are endless, including water, of course, and the convenience in our daily lives," he explained.
Further, Laurel mentioned that the DA, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive, is committed to ensuring that projects are implemented promptly and effectively. "We want to see this FMR implemented properly because it is very important to the livelihood and daily lives of our citizens," he added.
Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division guided auditors to the purported relocation site of the 2021 FMR project. The area bore a road marker labeled "2019 FMR," which typically indicates the year of project completion, raising further questions about the timeline and authenticity. The DA audit team also inspected an FMR project in Camarines Sur that was observed to be notably overpriced.
Laurel revealed that the department is conducting a deeper investigation, including a review of project documents, funding releases, and coordination with concerned agencies, to determine accountability and prevent similar anomalies.
