Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Friday, January 16, issued a strong warning against any attempt to steal or misuse funds allocated for the government’s ₱33 billion farm-to-market road (FMR) program.
In a radio interview, Pangilinan emphasized that he will hold accountable anyone involved in corrupt practices that could deprive farmers of essential infrastructure.
“We have put in place several safeguards para talagang matiyak [na walang magiging korapsyon],” he said.
“At sana, palagay ko naman itong pakiusap rin natin at siguro warning na rin na tayo mismo bilang chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, hindi tayo papayag sa kalokohan,” he added.
“Babantayan natin yan. Kaya sabi nga, wag na nila subukan dahil makakatikim sila. Papatawag natin sila sa Senado. Pagpapaliwanagin natin sila. Isu-subpoena natin sila kung kinakailangan kapag nakita natin na may mga kalokohan,” Pangilinan warned.
He highlighted that special safeguards—such as an online dashboard, geotagging, and citizens’ participatory audit—have been established to protect the FMR fund from misappropriation.
The FMR program, previously managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), will now be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the 60,000-kilometer backlog, boost rural development, ensure food security, and increase farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes.
Pangilinan also stressed that the DA must validate project costs, engineering designs, program of works, approved budgets, market prices, and site-specific conditions.
He noted that competitive bidding will involve private sector and local government partnerships, modeled after former Education Secretary Armin Luistro’s program, which built 600 schools weekly during the Aquino administration.
“Kaya panawagan din sa ating mga nasa LGU, sa private sector, ang ating mga citizens groups: ang ating tanggapan ay tanggapan ninyo sa pagbabantay. Let us know kung may mga hindi impormasyong hindi tama ang pag-implimenta,” he said.
“Babantayan natin yan. Kaya ang panawagan natin sa mga magiimplimenta nito ay wag niyo nang itangkang gamitin itong mga pondong ito para sa kurakot dahil hahabulin namin kayo,” he added.
Pangilinan also said he will follow up on Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s commitment to finish reviewing possibly overpriced FMR projects in the first quarter of 2026.
Laurel previously revealed that some projects last year were overpriced by at least 20% per kilometer. Evidence for potential corruption cases is already being prepared.