The Department of Agriculture (DA) has uncovered alleged “ghost” farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Mindanao amounting to an estimated P75 million, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed on Tuesday.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Tiu Laurel revealed that initial reports showed questionable projects in Region XI and Zamboanga City. He clarified, however, that the matter appears to be an isolated case rather than a widespread issue across the country’s FMR program.
“At present, we only have initial reports, and it’s not that huge in terms of the whole FMR project. What we discovered in Region XI and in Zamboanga City were isolated cases,” he explained.
The alleged irregularities involve approximately five kilometers of farm-to-market roads, with an estimated cost of around P15 million per kilometer, bringing the total to P75 million. Tiu Laurel noted that the projects in question were implemented between 2021 and 2022.
According to him, the contractors involved were relatively small players and not among the 15 major contractors previously identified by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as having won the bulk of government flood control contracts.
“This is a very small contract, not connected to those big firms. Per kilometer, it was around P15 million,” Tiu Laurel pointed out.
The DA chief also clarified that the questionable projects did not appear to be budget “insertions.” He said the projects were covered under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), though the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was the implementing agency.
“I don’t think this is an insertion. It was in our GAA, but the DPWH is the implementing agency,” he said, adding that he had already coordinated with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon regarding the matter.
Tiu Laurel confirmed he has verbally informed President Marcos of the issue and would be submitting a formal report to the Office of the President on Wednesday, October 1.
The discovery forms part of a broader audit ordered by Tiu Laurel of all FMR projects implemented since 2021. The audit, which aims to identify irregularities and ensure transparency, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He emphasized that while FMR projects are identified and validated by the DA, the responsibility for bidding and construction lies with the DPWH.