Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Workers head home as they walk past cassava plants in Baras, Rizal on July 4, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176767831031720240704-farmers-cassava-baras-JC-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers head home as they walk past cassava plants in Baras, Rizal on July 4, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said a huge portion of the budget for farm-to-market road (FMR) programs is situated in Luzon, as the agency vowed to boost local economies and food security.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/14/senators-congressmen-clash-over-funds-for-farm-to-market-roads-0011">Senators, congressmen clash over funds for farm-to-market roads</a></div><p>De Mesa said around P33 billion was earmarked for FMRs in the 2026 national fiscal spending plan, which he described as one of the government&#x27;s investment for “critical agriculture infrastructure.”</p><p>“Malaking halaga nito ay mapupunta sa ating northern and central Luzon. Ito ang ating food basket dito sa Luzon,” said De Mesa.</p><p>“Ang target natin ay mapalakas ang ating palay, mais, at yung ating agri-fishery sector. Ganun din sa Mindanao particular sa Region 12 para mapalakas ang ating– especially yung coffee and cacao at iba pang high-value commercial crops,” he added.</p><p>The official hoped that all of the funding would be implemented this year.</p><p>He added that they are studying the special provisions of the General Appropriations Act of 2026 for FMRs and other agriculture projects.</p><p>“Araw-araw halos ay nagmi-meeting kami ngayon para maging maayos ang pagi-implement namin ng key agri infrastructure lalo na po itong FMR,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/16/senate-to-seek-reconsideration-of-farm-to-market-road-budget-1809">Senate to seek reconsideration of farm-to-market road budget</a></div><p>Senator Francis Pangilinan, who took charge of the Department of Agriculture budget for the Senate, earlier last month said the DA would partner with local government units and the private sector in implementing FMR projects.</p><p>He also cited the conduct of citizen participatory audits and the validation of audit findings.</p><p>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel had said they were able to complete 70,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads. The projects, however, still have a backlog of 60,000 kilometers.</p><p>The DA said it would take over as lead implementing agency of farm-to-market roads starting this year.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NGWuLRQCdWU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EqT5tgVSjOc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Agriculture said a huge portion of the budget for farm-to-market road programs is situated in Luzon, as the agency vowed to boost local economies and food security.</p>

The Department of Agriculture said a huge portion of the budget for farm-to-market road programs is situated in Luzon, as the agency vowed to boost local economies and food security.

Luzon 'food basket' areas to get chunk of farm-to-market road projects in 2026

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Luzon 'food basket' areas to get chunk of farm-to-market road projects in 2026

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 06, 2026 01:46 PM PHT

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Farm to market roads

FMR

Luzon

agriculture

Department of Agriculture

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