Manila — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is set to expand its ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in public works, this time focusing on farm-to-market road (FMR) projects that may have been overpriced, Acting Chair Senator Erwin Tulfo said Sunday.
Tulfo confirmed that while the committee will soon shift its attention to the farm-to-market road issue, hearings on flood control project irregularities will continue in the meantime.
“I will be meeting with the Senate leadership next week to discuss the direction of the Blue Ribbon Committee. But there will still be hearings on the flood control issue before we shift to the FMR overpricing anomaly,” Tulfo said in a message to reporters.
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He added that the timing of the next sessions will depend on the availability of senators, noting that many are tied up with ongoing budget deliberations.
“Some of our colleagues are busy with their respective budget hearings,” Tulfo explained.
The Blue Ribbon Committee, previously chaired by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, had earlier postponed its next hearing after some key documents were not ready in time and scheduling conflicts arose with other inquiries.
The shift in focus follows recent discussions during the Senate’s deliberation on the Department of Agriculture’s 2026 budget, where Senator Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns over what he described as overpriced farm-to-market road projects worth ₱10.3 billion from 2023 to 2024.
Tulfo said the committee’s upcoming hearings aim to uncover irregularities and ensure public funds are properly spent on infrastructure that directly benefits farmers.
