Manila, Jan. 9 -- A planned 20-percent reduction in the cost of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) is expected to allow the government to build more rural roads under the PHP33-billion allocation for FMR projects in the 2026 national budget, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said Friday.

Pangilinan said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has committed to lowering FMR construction costs from about PHP18 million per kilometer to around PHP14.5 million per kilometer, a move that would stretch the budget and expand coverage.

"Pangakong nasusukat ang ibaba ang halaga ng pagpapatayo ng farm-to-market roads nang 20 percent (There is a measurable commitment to lower the cost of building farm-to-market roads by 20 percent)," Pangilinan said, noting tha...