The Makabayan bloc has called on the House of Representatives to investigate suspected overpricing in farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, as public concern over government corruption continues to rise.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co filed House Resolution No. 421, calling on their fellow lawmakers to “immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation, in aid of legislation, into the systemic corruption and overpricing of FMR projects.”
The lawmakers requested that the House committees on Public Accounts and on Agriculture and Food lead the inquiry into projects implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Earlier, both agencies announced plans to file criminal charges over questionable FMR projects, following an audit of nearly 1,000 projects dating back to 2021.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate finance committee, previously revealed that more than ₱10.3 billion had been lost due to alleged overpricing in FMR projects over the past two years.
The Makabayan bloc’s resolution emphasized the need to “thoroughly scrutinize the National FMR Network Plan 2023–2028” and “investigate all FMR projects for possible overpricing and corruption.”
“In light of widespread and systemic corruption in government, it is imperative to expose and hold accountable all those involved. It is unacceptable that billions of pesos from the national treasury are lost to corruption instead of being used for the benefit of the Filipino people,” the lawmakers said. (JCNE)
