DA maintains memo on biofertilizer use issued to increase yield, promote rice production

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday the issuance of a memorandum order on biofertilizers will serve as a guide for regional offices on its distribution and use that will increase yield and promote growth in rice production.

DA undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian said the department issued Memorandum Order No. 32 to prevent another “fertilizer scam,” adding that the guidelines will have a “fair, transparent, and sure” implementation in the use of biofertilizers.

“The MO No. 32 series of 2023 or implementing guidelines on the distribution and use of biofertilizer was issued to guide the DA regional offices on how to select and distribute this biological fertilizers to increase yield and promote growth in rice production. So 'yun ang purpose n'on. Ang iniiwasan natin sa paggawa ng guide na 'yon 'yung kinakatakutan natin na mga fertilizer scam na naman,” he said in a press briefing.

(So that's the purpose. What we are avoiding in making that guide is a repeat of the fertilizer scam.)

“Kasi iniiwasan natin 'yung nangyari nung nakaraan kasi alam na natin 'yung leksyon niyan marami sa amin sa DA eh naperwisyo lalo na 'yung mga regional directors, mga opisyal dahil nagkakaso-kaso at sila naman ang naipit at ang retirement at marami hanggang ngayon may kaso pa. We don’t want a repeat of that fertilizer scam that’s why we have develop this guidelines so that we can have a fair, transparent, and sure implementation,” he added.

(We are avoiding what happened in the past because we already know the lesson we learned from that, many of us in the DA have been affected, especially the regional directors, and officers who have been charged and whose retirement benefits have been put on hold.)

Sebastian made the remark after Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 608 asking the Blue Ribbon committee to launch an investigation into DA’s issuance of MO No. 32.

The DA official said without a guideline that is transparent and fair, a repeat of a fertilizer scam is possible because the suppliers or influential people can dictate or tailor fit specifications of products.

“Kung tignan mo 'yung ginawa nating guidelines very clear meron siyang criteria on cost effectiveness, mayroon siyang criteria on efficacy and effectiveness in that location, in that region. Pagkatapos mayroon din siyang requirement na 'yung biofertilizer na 'yun must be locally produced and, the last one, you do not just sell to the government, hindi lang bibilhin ng gobyerno 'yung produkto na 'yan. Kailangan ikaw na kumpanya mayroon ka ring kakayahan na tulungan 'yung magsasaka para ituro kung paano ang tamang paggamit ng biofertilizer,” he added.

(If you look at the guidelines we made, it is very clear that we have criteria on cost-effectiveness, efficacy, and effectiveness in that location, in that region. Then there is also a requirement that biofertilizer must be locally produced. And the last one you do not just sell to the government, the government will not just buy that product. You as a company need to have the ability to help the farmer, teach how to use the biofertilizer properly.)

“Kasi 'yung nangyayari minsan pag-scam 'yan susuplayan ka lang ng produkto wala pang quality control, hindi pa registered sa Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) tapos nag-disappear na 'yung supplier. Binigay na lang sa gobyerno 'yung produkto na hindi mo alam kung lusaw o tama o mali, ganoon ang iniiwasan natin,” he further said..

(Because what happens sometimes when it's a scam, is you're only supplied with the product, there's no quality control, it's not registered with the FPA, and then the supplier disappears. The government just gave you the product and you don't know if it's already melted or if it is the correct or wrong product, that's what we are trying avoid.)

Poor soil quality

Sebastian also said the condition of soil in the country is poor, adding that this is the reason they are pushing for the use of balanced fertilization.

“Yung kalusugan ng lupa, alam ito ng ating magsasaka. Kahit buhos tayo nang buhos ng fertilizer subsidy, mayroon tayong certified seed na pinamimigay nakikita namin hindi na masyadong umaangat kasi 'yung kalusugan ng ating lupa ay bagsak na kaya isa sa mga nakita naming solusyon ay 'yung pagmalawakang pagpromote ng balanced fertilization,” he said.

(Our farmers know this, even though we pour in fertilizer subsidy, we have certified seed that is distributed, we see that the quality of soil is not improving so one of the solutions that we have found is the widespread promotion of balanced fertilization.)

He explained that the balanced fertilization involves the combined use of organic fertilizer, biofertilizer, and inorganic fertilizer.

“'Yan 'yung ating programa na gusto natin ipalaganap at para ma-maintain natin ang production ng bigas dito sa Pilipinas kasi (That is the program that we want to spread and so that we can maintain the production of rice here in the Philippines because) we have to make our rice production more sustainable not only today but also in the future. And our continued use of inorganic fertilizer is unsustainable. It is making our soil acidic and it is making our production plateuing ibig sabihing hindi masyadong umaangat,” he said.

Sebastian also said that the department will ask Congress to allocate P1.9 billion for the implementation of biofertilizers next year.

“Yun ang plano ng DA para magtuloy tuloy 'yung pagpromote natin ng biofertilizer, nagpropose din kami ng budget for 2024. As of now, mga P1.9 billion 'yan for 2024. But ang gagawin natin sa 2024 magiging voucher na siya. So ibig sabihin 'yung farmer, hindi na magkakaroon ng bidding, iba-voucher na siya at pipili na 'yung magsasaka kung ano 'yung gusto niya biofertilizer,” he said.

(That is the DA's plan to continue our promotion of biofertilizer, we also proposed a budget for 2024. As of now, that is about P1.9 billion for 2024. But what we will do in 2024, it will be a voucher. So that means the farmer, there will be no more bidding, the farmer will be given a voucher and they will choose what biofertilizer he wants.)

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos on Friday recommended the distribution of cash vouchers for farmers as she also warned them of another fund scam.

“Well ang totoo, ang biofertilizer napakaganda, nakikita natin ang yield niyan napakataas. Ang problema lamang, baka maging new fertilizer scam pagkat nakita ko 'yung mga presyong tinakda para sa biofertiliizer at 'yung mga presyo para sa regular fertilizer ng DA, ke taas-taas. Hindi naman makatotohanan,” she said.

(Well the truth is, the biofertilizer is very good, we see that the yield is very high. The only problem is, it might become a new fertilizer scam because I saw the prices set for biofertiliizer and the prices for DA's regular fertilizer are very high. It's not realistic.)

“Depende na lang sa magsasaka.  Bigyan na lang natin ng cash voucher para sa fertilizer. Siya na lang ang mamili kung ano ang angkop sa lupa niya. Mas okay na ‘yun. At siya na rin ang bumili kung saan niya gusto. May pekeng fertlizer 'wag lang siyang madali nun,” she added.

(It just depends on the farmer. Let's just give a cash voucher for fertilizer. It is up to him to choose what is suitable for his land. That's better. And he can also buy where he wanted. However, they should not fall for fake fertilizers.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News