The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Economy and Development Council’s approval of the P27.7-billion Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program (FMBDP) will significantly improve rural infrastructure and agricultural logistics.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Monday the council approved the FMBDP on June 18 to construct 300 modular steel panel bridges across the country.
He said these bridges will be strategically located across 52 provinces in 15 regions, prioritizing areas with strong agricultural potential but limited road connectivity.
Moreover, the proposed bridges will have a four- standard single-lane and 296 extra-wide single-lane spanning 11,400.9 linear meters to enhance connectivity along farm-to-market roads.
The FMBDP will be financed through an Official Development Assistance from the Government of France, the DA said.
Of the total project cost, P22.15 billion will come from loans while P5.54 billion will come from the regular national government funds.
“This initiative also seeks to raise the income of farmers and fisherfolk by improving access to markets and ensuring the more efficient and cost-effective movement of goods and services,” Tiu Laurel said.
He added the project has been designed to spread development to all regions, and strengthen the physical link between farming communities and local, as well as regional markets.
A total of 1,428 proposed bridge sites were submitted by local government units but only the top 300 were selected based on a rigorous prioritization framework developed by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, the DA explained.
“The Department has invested time and effort to ensure that the FMBDP is not just about building infrastructure across 15 regions, but about delivering long-term support to agricultural communities,” Tiu Laurel explained.
The DA said construction works will be done between 2026 and 2029.
“Our farmers and fisherfolk can expect continued oversight of this project to guarantee that timely and appropriate assistance reaches them,” the DA secretary added.
