By Kenneth Marcos 
Farmers, engineers, and local officials gathered early this week in Davao City, hoping that better roads will soon mean faster trips from farms to markets, lower transport costs, and higher income for rural families.
The Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) held a Mindanao-wide public consultation on January 27–28, 2026, at the World Palace Hotel in Davao City. The two-day event focused on the draft General Implementing Guidelines for Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects, a key program aimed at improving access for farmers and fishers across the region.
Local government units (LGUs) from different provinces and cities in Mindanao attended the consultation. The goal was to build a shared understanding of how the FMR program will be carried out under the updated guidelines. DA-BAFE officials explained the policy framework, objectives, and overall direction of the program, while participants were encouraged to share their concerns and suggestions.
Farm-to-market roads play a crucial role in agriculture. These roads connect farms, fishing areas, and production sites to trading posts, markets, and processing centers. Poor or damaged roads often lead to high transport costs, post-harvest losses, and delays that reduce farmers’ earnings. The DA has long identified FMR projects as a priority to help boost food production and rural development.
During the consultation, DA-BAFE presented the proposed rules on who can qualify for FMR projects, how projects will be prioritized, and what types of road works are allowed. These include guidelines on road length, location, and connection to existing infrastructure. Officials stressed that the updated rules aim to ensure that projects are fair, transparent, and focused on areas with the greatest need and impact.
Participants discussed common challenges faced by LGUs, such as limited budgets, right-of-way issues, and the need for proper planning and maintenance. Some local officials shared experiences from past FMR projects, pointing out what worked well and what needs improvement. These real-world insights were noted as important inputs in finalizing the guidelines.
DA-BAFE officials emphasized that consultations like this are vital to improving government programs. By listening to LGUs, the agency hopes to design clearer and more practical rules that can be applied on the ground. A well-defined process, they said, helps avoid delays and ensures that public funds are used effectively.
Mindanao is a major food producer, supplying rice, corn, fruits, vegetables, and fish to many parts of the country. Improving farm-to-market roads in the region is seen as a direct way to strengthen food security, support farmers’ livelihoods, and reduce poverty in rural areas. Better roads can also encourage private investment and open up new economic opportunities in the countryside.
The consultation in Davao City is part of a broader effort by the Department of Agriculture to align infrastructure projects with its goal of building a more productive and resilient agriculture sector. Feedback gathered from the two-day meeting will be reviewed and may be included in the final version of the FMR implementing guidelines.
As the government moves forward with these plans, many farmers and local leaders are hopeful that clearer rules and stronger cooperation will lead to faster, better-built roads that truly serve rural communities. The success of the FMR program, they say, will depend not only on funding, but also on careful planning, honest implementation, and continued dialogue among all sectors involved.
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