Senate probes PHP33-billion farm-to-market road budget amid transparency concerns

A budget battle brews as lawmakers challenge the sudden doubling of funds for rural roads. Will transparency win—or will politics derail the deal?

, and Administrator

2025 December 15 . 7:37 PM

1 min read

Here we can see the number of buildings, grass, houses, trees and vehicles are on the road.

Senate probes PHP33-billion farm-to-market road budget amid transparency concerns

Senators are demanding clearer details on the PHP33-billion allocation for farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in the 2026 national budget. The proposed amount is double the PHP16 billion initially suggested under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and exceeds the House’s earlier version. Concerns have been raised about transparency.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson questioned whether the FMR projects were chosen by the Department of Agriculture (DA) or inserted by lawmakers. He insisted on knowing the exact source of the projects and how they were vetted. Lacson also warned he would refuse to sign the bicameral conference committee report unless the issue is resolved in the final budget.

The final budget for FMRs remains under scrutiny as senators push for full transparency. If approved, the PHP33-billion allocation—potentially rising to PHP43 billion—will fund road projects aimed at improving rural connectivity. Lawmakers continue to demand clearer guidelines on project selection and oversight before giving their approval.