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The Long Road Ahead: An Initial Assessment of Farm-to-Market Road Development and Allocation


This discussion paper examines the development of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR) in the Philippines in relation to the strategic priorities outlined in the National FMR Network Plan 2023 – 2028. Five regions cornered more than half of the total budget for FMR repair/rehabilitation and construction for the period 2023-2026. Notably, none of these regions were among the top five with the highest number of FMR proposals, indicating a possible mismatch between resource allocation and local requirements. Without adjustments, regions most in need of FMR infrastructure support may be further disadvantaged, depriving them of the opportunity to catch up with more progressive regions. The slow pace of FMR development is also noted, estimating that it will take about 26 years to address the backlog even at the fastest pace recorded in recent years. The paper also highlights that higher appropriations for the repair/rehabilitation and construction of FMRs in 2023 and 2024 were not accompanied by a commensurate increase in actual accomplishments. Addressing these challenges requires aligning investments more closely with the National FMR Network Plan, establishing a clear framework for budget allocation to improve transparency and accountability, and ensuring a more equitable distribution between high-productivity areas and underserved regions. The paper also recommends higher FMR funding, separation of budget lines for construction and rehabilitation, a midterm plan assessment of the National FMR Plan, and strengthened monitoring and maintenance systems to promote more effective and sustainable FMR development in the country.



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