Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged that farmers and consumers must feel the impact of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) P33-billion budget for 2026, particularly its farm-to-market road (FMR) program.
The DA, now in charge of FMR construction previously handled by the DPWH, aims to reduce road-building costs by about 20 percent, from P18 million to P14.5 million per kilometer.
Pangilinan stressed that the increased budget should translate to higher farmer incomes and more affordable commodities for consumers.
He also emphasized safeguards against corruption, including geo-tagged projects, public monitoring, and validation against the DA master plan.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Pangilinan vowed to prevent kickbacks and ensure transparency, calling on citizens and civil society groups to help monitor project implementation.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 10, 2026
