HOUSE Special Committee on Food Security Chair Raymond Adrian Salceda (Albay, 3rd District) defended Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu-Laurel amid criticisms over the increase in the Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) budget, saying the allocation remains insufficient to meet national needs.
The remarks were delivered during the meeting of the House Special Committee on Food Security.
“I am from one of the most rural districts in Bicol. Hanggang ngayon po, sa mga distritong katulad ng distrito ng inyong lingkod, carriada pa rin po ang isa sa pinakamalaking problema ng magsasaka,” Salceda said.
“Today, as much as 40% of costs of farmers are in logistics. Another 30% of production is wasted in poor transport. Kapag walang daan patungong merkado, kawawa ang magsasaka,” he added.
Citing the scale of the infrastructure gap, Salceda said: “Ayon po sa isang pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank, nasa 140,000 kilometers po ng FMR ang kailangan ng bansa… Kahit P15 million per kilometer po ang gastos sa FMR, napakaliit pa rin po ng P33 billion na inaprubahan during the bicam, mula P16 billion, para sa 2026.”
Salceda expressed support for reforms under the current DA leadership.
“Nagsimula na po ang reporma sa FMRs sa pamumuno ni Secretary Tiu-Laurel… Hindi na po bara-bara o kung ano lang ang maisingit sa budget,” he said.
He rejected claims that the budget increase was excessive.
“So, I would like to defend the Secretary against undeserved attacks that the DA FMR budget is bloated, and that the increase from P16 billion to P33 billion is unwarranted. Kulang pa nga po ’yan sa pangangailangan ng bansa,” Salceda said.
He concluded by stressing the broader impact of FMRs.
“At hindi lang naman po sa agrikultura ang silbi ng FMR… Utang po natin sa mga magsasaka na matapos itong FMR Network Plan,” Salceda said.
