Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) should continue to pursue companies that profit off the sale of substandard fertilizers to serve as a deterrent to others, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food said Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who violate fertilizer regulations and deceive both the government and farmers. Bernos issued a statement underscoring the need for justice against such fraudulent activities to prevent ongoing abuses of the system.
Bernos' statement follows a criminal complaint filed by the DA's Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) against DO's Asia Chemical Trading Corp., a Davao-based enterprise, and its president. The complaint concerns a PHP25.67-million government procurement contract for inorganic fertilizers intended for farmers in Caraga. The FPA alleged that the company conducted unauthorized fertilizer dealership activities in Caraga, despite having licenses only in the Davao region.
Furthermore, the company allegedly employed the banned 'spinning palanggana' fertilizer production method, an illegal process that involves mixing different fertilizer grades by hand in a large basin. This method is prohibited as it fails to ensure consistent quality and uniformity of fertilizers. Additionally, DO's Asia was accused of supplying a fertilizer product registered under another manufacturer's name without obtaining the necessary Third-Party Authorization from the FPA.
The FPA had previously taken legal action against the owner of DQB Green Agricultural Products Trading for allegedly manufacturing regulated fertilizer products without a license in North Cotabato. Bernos commended the FPA and the DA for their efforts in investigating and filing cases against non-compliant companies. He stressed the importance of ensuring that agricultural products meet regulatory standards, as this impacts public safety and the effectiveness of the products used by consumers and farmers.
