Following the approval of a national timetable, farmers and fisherfolk set to benefit from the construction of farm-to-market roads will see progress again as government agencies are expected to sign a joint administrative order within the month.President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., who also serves as the agriculture chief, assured that the country has a national timetable for the construction of FMRs.
The FMRs connect agricultural and fisheries areas to markets, allowing producers to transport goods to traders and consumers with relative ease. With such, farmers and fisher folks will gain better prices and broader reach for their products. The JAO, which will implement FMRs and other infrastructure connectivity, is between and among the DA, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Tourism.
“There is a requirement of 131,410.66 km of the country to cater to the 14 million hectares of production areas for agriculture and fisheries. As of October 2022, a total of 67,255.46 FMR were completed, leaving a backlog of 64,155.20 kilometers,” the DA noted.