Executive Secretary Ralph Recto clarified on Monday that the P32-billion farm-to-market road projects being linked to alleged “pork barrel” allocations were identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and not by members of Congress.

During a palace press briefing on Monday, ES Recto explained that the DA submitted the list of farm-to-market roads as part of its plan for congressional deliberation.

“Ang pagkaintindi ko dyan ay Department of Agriculture yan. Ang nagbigay ng listahan ng farm-to-market roads,” he said.

When asked if congressmen had any involvement in identifying the projects, Recto said he had no knowledge of their participation.

He noted that the proposals were presented and discussed during the Bicameral Conference Committee (BICAM) meetings, recalling debates that took place at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Recto also addressed questions regarding the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, which some lawmakers, such as the Presidential Sister Sen. Imee Marcos, described as a form of “ayuda.”

The Executive Secretary clarified that the program, valued at roughly P10 billion, is included in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) and aims to support farmers facing low farmgate prices.

“Yun ay assistance sa farmers dahil minsan ang presyo ng bigas o palay ay 12 pesos per kilo. I think we want to maintain the farm gate prices roughly at 18 pesos. Yun ang diperensya dyan. Binabayaran natin yung diperensya,” Recto said, emphasizing that the program benefits over two million farmers and is not pork barrel.

The Palace official underscored that both the farm-to-market roads and the Presidential Assistance to Farmers are agency-driven initiatives intended to support agriculture, rather than politically allocated funds.