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DA memo on biofertilizer use to prevent new fertilizer scam

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

May 12, 2023, 5:36 pm

<p>File photo</p>

File photo

MANILA – Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian on Friday assured that the recent memorandum on the use of biofertilizers was issued to prevent a repeat of the 2004 fertilizer fund scam.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Sebastian said Memorandum Order No. 32 sets clear guidelines for DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) on how to select and distribute these biofertilizers to increase yield and promote growth in rice production.

"We don’t want a repeat of that fertilizer scam that's why we have developed this guideline so that we can have a fair, transparent and sure implementation… para ma-attain natin 'yung magandang outcome ng paggamit ng biofertilizer (in order to attain the expected good outcomes in using biofertilizers)," Sebastian said.

Sebastian was referring to the controversy that involved the alleged diversion of around PHP728 million in DA fertilizer funds for reelection back in 2004.

Sebastian said the memorandum has set criteria to guide the department's RFOs on how to select the appropriate and applicable biofertilizers in their localities, taking into account the biofertilizer, efficacy or effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, local source and presence of technical assistance from the suppliers.

"With the many options in the market, we assure you that our regional field offices will follow a good guide in order to have a good implementation of our biofertilizer program," he said.

He pointed out that the country's rice production has been facing challenges, such as the high cost of fertilizer and the increasingly degraded oil.

"And our continued use of inorganic fertilizer is unsustainable. It is making our soil acidic, and it is making our production plateauing," he said.

He said the large-scale application of the balanced fertilization strategy that combines the application of organic, inorganic and biofertilizer is one of the options to reduce cost and rejuvenate the degraded soil.

Biofertilizers are substances that contain living microorganisms that when applied to soil or plants promote growth by increasing the supply of nutrients to the plant.

"In the long run if we use biofertilizer we can make our rice production more sustainable and at the same time, we are going to a path of environmental-friendly solution," he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the DA memorandum on biofertilizer use.

Hontiveros said the idea of buying biofertilizers is drawing concern from farmer organizations since it may end up being another fertilizer fund scam. (PNA)

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