MAKILALA, COTABATO — A newly completed ₱14.4-million farm-to-market road (FMR) in Barangay Batasan, Makilala, Cotabato Province is already changing how farmers move their crops—and cutting one of their biggest expenses along the way.
The one-kilometer concrete road, implemented through a partnership between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), connects Barangays Batasan and Baiangan and is expected to improve access to markets, transportation and essential services.
The project may be only one kilometer long, but for farmers who once struggled through difficult roads, the difference is significant.
From risky roads to cheaper hauling
Before the road was completed, residents reportedly relied on carabaos and horses to move agricultural products because of poor and risky road conditions.
Barangay Batasan Chairman Rogelio T. Virador said public transportation fares had previously reached ₱40 because of the condition of the route.
The situation has changed considerably following the completion of the concrete road.
Farm products such as coconut, rubber and coffee can now be transported more efficiently.
More importantly for farmers, the cost of hauling agricultural products reportedly fell from ₱2 per kilogram to ₱1 per kilogram—a 50% reduction.
That difference can translate into more money retained by farmers instead of being absorbed by transportation expenses.
Some residents have also reportedly started purchasing their own vehicles because the improved road has made travel more practical.
For farmer Marcellino Bangut, who has been farming for 13 years, the long-awaited project has made everyday livelihood activities easier and more convenient.
Why farm-to-market roads matter
Farm-to-market roads are more than transportation projects for agricultural communities.
Poor road connectivity can increase hauling expenses, lengthen travel time and make it more difficult for farmers to bring products to buyers. Better roads can help connect production areas with markets and other services.
The national government has placed renewed emphasis on FMR construction in 2026.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the DA has ₱33 billion allocated for about 1,600 FMR projects covering more than 2,300 kilometers nationwide this year. The DA has also been developing systems to monitor FMR projects and make project information more accessible to the public.
The program is particularly significant because the DA has taken a larger role in FMR implementation following the government’s decision to transfer funding for these projects from the DPWH.
The roads are intended to address logistical problems that directly affect farmers’ production and marketing costs.
Bigger road push reaches Mindanao
The Makilala project comes as the government continues to expand agricultural infrastructure across Mindanao.
In July, the DA announced the approval of more than ₱2.06 billion in FMR and bridge projects nationwide covering more than 66 kilometers of roads and 310 linear meters of bridges.
Among the areas included was North Cotabato, highlighting the continuing infrastructure push in the region.
The DA has also said that major FMR projects are moving forward in different parts of the country, including projects designed to support agricultural production areas and emerging agricultural hubs.
Soccsksargen projects worth billions
For the broader Soccsksargen region, the pipeline is even larger.
The DA Region 12 said more than ₱3.5 billion worth of additional FMR projects are scheduled for implementation.
At the same time, 441.64 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth ₱5.5 billion have already been completed across the region, according to the PIA report.
For communities dependent on agriculture, the significance goes beyond the length of the road.
Every kilometer of reliable farm access can potentially mean easier transport, lower hauling costs and faster movement of crops from farms to buyers.
The road ahead
The Makilala project also comes at a time when FMR spending is receiving greater public scrutiny.
In January, the DA launched the FMR Watch transparency portal, allowing the public to access information about projects and submit feedback or reports. The initiative followed broader government efforts to improve transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending.
That transparency push is particularly relevant as the government ramps up FMR construction.
The DA has also investigated alleged irregularities involving farm-to-market road projects elsewhere in the country, including alleged “ghost” projects in Davao Occidental. The cases underscore why completed roads need not only to be built, but also properly documented, monitored and maintained.
For Barangay Batasan, however, the immediate result is already visible.
A road that once made the movement of crops difficult is now providing farmers with a faster and less expensive connection to the outside market.
And if the broader FMR pipeline across Cotabato and Soccsksargen moves forward as planned, the one-kilometer road in Batasan may be just one small piece of a much larger transformation in how agricultural products move across the region.
The question now is whether these new roads can translate into sustained higher farm incomes, stronger local businesses and a more competitive agricultural economy.
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