Prioritize farm-to-market roads

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to give priority to the construction and repair of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects to help farmers.

Marcos, who also serves as the DA secretary, issued the directive during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

The President said he wants government initiatives to remain on track with the Farm-to-Market Roads National Plan.

«To prioritize our farmers, we've decided not to lower tariffs and instead develop or repair crucial farm-to-market roads where needed,» Marcos said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the President told DA officials that the government must prioritize projects based on utility and development aspects.

«We'll have to assess it in terms of need. Where do we need the roads most? For example, roads that are heavily used that are not in good condition but so many are using it need to be fixed,» he said.

He directed DA officials to coordinate with other concerned agencies to identify areas for the development and construction of FMRs to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services.

«We have to be in coordination with other departments as to where are the areas that need to be prepared, that we want to start planting high-value crops in this area, for example, we need to put an FMR there because we need to improve it,» he said.

Marcos also said the rehabilitation and repair of FMRs that were damaged by floods and other natural disasters should also be considered.

«To continue to achieve food security, we will improve the National Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan,» he added.

As of October 2022, the DA and other government agencies have completed 67,255.46 kilometers