The Department of Agriculture (DA) mentioned Friday the issuance of a memorandum order on biofertilizers will function a information for regional places of work on its distribution and use that can improve yield and promote progress in rice manufacturing.
DA undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian mentioned the division issued Memorandum Order No. 32 to stop one other “fertilizer scam,” including that the rules may have a “fair, transparent, and sure” implementation in the usage 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 mentioned in a press briefing.
(So that is the aim. What we’re avoiding in making that information is a repeat of the fertilizer rip-off.)
“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 occurred up to now as a result of we already know the lesson we discovered from that, many people within the DA have been affected, particularly the regional administrators, and officers who’ve been charged and whose retirement advantages have been placed on maintain.)
Sebastian made the comment 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 mentioned with out a guideline that’s clear and honest, a repeat of a fertilizer rip-off is feasible as a result of the suppliers or influential folks can dictate or tailor match specs of merchandise.
“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 have a look at the rules we made, it is rather clear that we have now standards on cost-effectiveness, efficacy, and effectiveness in that location, in that area. Then there may be additionally a requirement that biofertilizer have to be domestically produced. And the final one you don’t simply promote to the federal government, the federal government is not going to simply purchase that product. You as an organization have to have the flexibility to assist the farmer, train tips on how to use the biofertilizer correctly.)
“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 additional mentioned..
(Because what occurs generally when it is a rip-off, is you are solely provided with the product, there isn’t any high quality management, it isn’t registered with the FPA, after which the provider disappears. The authorities simply gave you the product and you do not know if it is already melted or if it’s the appropriate or unsuitable product, that is what we are attempting keep away from.)
Poor soil high quality
Sebastian additionally mentioned the situation of soil within the nation is poor, including that that is the rationale they’re pushing for the usage 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 mentioned.
(Our farmers know this, though we pour in fertilizer subsidy, we have now licensed seed that’s distributed, we see that the standard of soil isn’t bettering so one of many options that we have now discovered is the widespread promotion of balanced fertilization.)
He defined that the balanced fertilization entails the mixed use of natural 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 mentioned.
Sebastian additionally mentioned that the division will ask Congress to allocate P1.9 billion for the implementation of biofertilizers subsequent 12 months.
“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 mentioned.
(That is the DA’s plan to proceed our promotion of biofertilizer, we additionally proposed a price range for 2024. As of now, that’s about P1.9 billion for 2024. But what we are going to do in 2024, it is going to be a voucher. So meaning the farmer, there might be no extra bidding, the farmer might be given a voucher and they’re going to select what biofertilizer he needs.)
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos on Friday really useful the distribution of money vouchers for farmers as she additionally warned them of one other fund rip-off.
“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 mentioned.
(Well the reality is, the biofertilizer is excellent, we see that the yield could be very excessive. The solely drawback is, it’d change into a brand new fertilizer rip-off as a result of I noticed the costs set for biofertiliizer and the costs for DA’s common fertilizer are very excessive. It’s not real looking.)
“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 simply is dependent upon the farmer. Let’s simply give a money voucher for fertilizer. It is as much as him to decide on what’s appropriate for his land. That’s higher. And he may also purchase the place he needed. However, they need to not fall for pretend fertilizers.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
