51% of farm to market roads complete — Marcos

FOOD SECURITY President Marcos and officials of the Department of Agriculture continue discussions on government plans to enhance food production. Their meeting on July 18, 2022, focused on the DA’s operation plan for priority commodities and touched on the need to build more farm-to-market roads. —Department of Agriculture Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said that the administration has already built more than half of its targeted farm-to-market roads.

According to Marcos, the target was to build  131,410.66 kilometers during his six-year presidency as part of the Farm-to-Market Road Network Program.

“Maaarin ko nang mai-report na 51 percent of that, nabuo na natin. We have built 67,328.92 kilometers,” said Marcos in a video posted on Instagram.

(I can report that 52 percent of that we have built. We have built 67,328.92 kilometers.)

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The President, also the former agriculture secretary, said that the length of the roads built would be like walking back to back from Aparri to Jolo 32 times.

“Its main purpose is to connect the markets and the producers, especially to our agricultural sectors also,” said Marcos in a mix of English and Filipino.

Marcos held onto the agriculture post for more than a year into his term, insisting he needed to prioritize the sector.