This will focus on the implementation of programs, such as the farm-to-market roads (FMRs) that will be under the purview of DA from 2026.
In a statement on Monday, December 8, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a watchdog unit to ensure the responsible implementation of infrastructure programs.
The list include the farm-to-market roads (FMRs), which will return to the DA from the Department of Public Works and Highways starting next year, as well as physical facilities for the processing and storage of agricultural products and goods like food hubs, cold storage facilities, and rice mills.
In addition, France has also pledged support for nearly 300 steel bridges in 52 provinces to improve access for farmers in remote areas.
Tiu Laurel said, “The recent controversy surrounding flood control projects underscores why we need a strong safeguards system, We cannot afford gray areas or blind spots.“
He added, “This watchdog unit ensures that every DA project is transparent, accountable, and fully aligned with environmental and social standards.”
Internal oversight will now be strengthened under the DA’s newly formed Interim Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Unit, created through an administrative directive.
The unit institutionalizes safeguards tools first developed under the World Bank–supported Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), which include environmental assessments, social risk reviews, and stakeholder engagement.
These protocols will be integrated into all DA offices, bureaus, attached agencies, and regional field units as the department ramps up climate-resilient programs.
Tiu Laurel said the SES Unit will craft a department-wide SES institutionalization roadmap, harmonize standards, embed safeguards into every stage of project planning and procurement, and ensure compliance with national regulations and development-partner requirements.
There will also be a nationwide network of trained safeguards officers that will provide oversight at both central and regional levels.
At the national level, the SES Unit will be led by a Supervisor and senior specialists, while regional field offices will form their own teams led by junior specialists.
The unit will coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), along with financing partners including the World Bank and IFAD.
The move is said to be following a World Bank recommendation under the PRDP Scale-Up to establish permanent safeguards positions for continuity.
Tiu Laurel said the strengthened structure is vital as the DA pushes for “sustainable, accountable, and community-protective” agricultural development.
The administrative order takes effect immediately, the DA furthered.