Manila, Oct. 9 -- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday warned the Department of Agriculture (DA) to overhaul its farm-to-market road (FMR) program or risk losing its PHP16-billion allocation in the proposed 2026 national budget.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said he is reluctant to approve the FMR funding due to persistent issues of overpricing and inefficiency in the program's implementation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

"PHP16 billion ang hinihingi nila this coming 2026. Kung hindi nila maaayos 'yung kanilang proseso o hindi maaayos ng DPWH, ako nagdadalawang-isip rin akong ilagay 'yung PHP16 billion sa farm-to-market roads kasi mawawaldas l...