Philippine farm-to-market road projects begin construction in August

The Department of Agriculture will start bidding for previously delayed farm-to-market road projects on Thursday, June 4. Construction is expected to begin in August once bidding, which can last one to two months, is completed. A department spokesman said the delay resulted from costing adjustments and global oil shocks.

The previous standard rate of 15 million pesos per kilometer has been replaced with variable rates ranging from 10 million pesos in easier terrain to more than 20 million pesos in mountainous or island areas.

Project scope Some of the projects will serve coffee production areas in Sultan Kudarat, the Clark National Food Hub, and selected cold-storage facilities. The department has been allocated 33 billion pesos for farm-to-market road projects in 2026. The department also began a review of "ghost" projects and filed complaints with the Ombudsman against officials and contractors involved in those cases.

Last year the department assumed responsibility for farm-to-market road construction and maintenance after a corruption scandal at the Department of Public Works and Highways.