Davao: The Department of Agriculture (DA) will summon both contractors and district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over unfinished farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the Davao Region. The move follows DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.'s inspection of two out of three incomplete FMRs in the region as part of the agency's ongoing nationwide audit.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel stated, "We will seek explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways district engineers assigned to that area from 2021 and 2022 in coordination with Secretary Vince Dizon and his new team, as to why the FMRs are either non-existent or only now being completed." Tiu Laurel is set to meet with Dizon next week to discuss matters related to the ongoing FMR audits, which are expected to be concluded by the year-end.

Besides the DPWH, the DA will also summon the three contractors involved in the unfinished FMRs in Davao. These projects, which the DA regional field offices flagged, should have been completed in 2021. "One road was really nowhere to be found, while the other still had freshly poured cement," Tiu Laurel said.

The projects cost between PHP12 million and PHP15 million, with each FMR spanning at least one kilometer. The agriculture chief emphasized the critical role of FMRs in strengthening the value chain and improving farmers' livelihoods. "The farmers I've talked to during the inspection have underscored the importance of those FMR projects for their livelihood, especially in lowering the cost of production and increasing their income," Tiu Laurel said.

To date, an estimated 70,000 km. of the 131,000-km. nationwide FMR requirement has been completed, aimed at linking agricultural production areas directly to markets.