Sen. Cynthia Villar says P10-B budget for imported inorganic fertilizer wasteful

Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday voiced her opposition to the proposed P10-billion budget for imported inorganic fertilizer, saying investing in composting machines to make organic fertilizer in the country is more cost effective.

“Gigil na gigil ako roon sa P10 billion budget for import of inorganic fertilizer. Hindi ko ma-imagine na gagasta tayo ng P10 billion for inorganic fertilizer na masama naman sa soil natin,” Villar said during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed P167 billion budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies for 2024.

(This P10-billion budget for imported inorganic fertilizer makes me furious. I cannot imagine that we will spend P10 billion for this when this is bad for our soil.)

Villar, who was presiding over the hearing, said that given the amount of waste in the country, the government should invest in composting machines just like how she bought composting machines that turn kitchen and garden waste to organic fertilizer.

“Andami dami natin basura. Kitchen and garden waste compromise 50% of our waste, nagkalat lang ‘yan. We succeeded in using composting machines for making organic fertilizer, and we distribute this organic fertilizers to farmers and urban gardeners to compliment the seeds we are giving them para magtanim sila ng gulay para pag wala sila trabaho hindi sila magutom at hindi sila magnakaw,” Villar said.

(This benefits the farmers so they can plant vegetables when they are out of job, so they won’t go hungry and be forced to steal.)

Villar then said that her personal expense on composting machines already enabled her to establish 89 composting facilities to which produce 89 tons of organic fertilizer every month so far.

“We saved P300 million a year for waste management because we recycle our waste. Instead of importing [fertilizer], we should use our kitchen and garden waste to make organic fertilizer and give them to the farmers for free. I want to see the day when we don’t need to import fertilizer anymore,” she said.

Villar then scolded the Bureau of Soil and Water Management for opposing her suggestion of investing in composting machines.

“Bakit ayaw niyo? Itigil ko daw. Gigil na gigil ako roon sa P10 billion ko eh.  Kasi hindi naman kailangan ‘yun eh at mas maganda pa ang soil [kung organic],” Villar stressed.

“Binibigyan kita ng P2 billion, ayaw mo? Para mamigay ka ng composting machine, ayaw mo? Lahat sila nanghihingi sa akin ng pera ikaw lang binibigyan ko. Kasi gusto ko matanggal iyon P10 billion para sa pag-import ng chemical fertilizer,” Villar added.

(I am giving you P2 billion for you to be able to provide a composting machine and you don’t like it? Everybody is asking me for a budget but I want to give it to you to remove that P10-billion budget.)

Villar noted that even the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) said that compost mixed with animal manure can be processed to serve as a fertilizer for palay.

“Those with animal manure are reaching out to me, asking you to buy organic fertilizer from them. They are willing to process animal manure so they can turn it to organic fertilizer that they can sell to you,” she said.

“But to have P10 billion for such importation of fertilizer? That is very shocking to me. I have been tolerating you to cover the shortage, but the permanent solution here is we should be able to produce our own,” Villar added.

Without importation, Villar said the country will be able to provide jobs for Filipinos in need.

After Villar made her point, the Senate finance committee proceeded to hear the proposed budget of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), an attached agency of the DA. —KBK, GMA Integrated News