Ex-VP Binay: Gov’t should develop alternative, indigenous sources of fertilizers

BINAY IN BATAAN – Former Vice President and UNA senatorial candidate Jejomar C. Binay receives a warm welcome at the Balanga Public Market in Balanga, Bataan. Binay is in the province for the second leg of his Luzon sorties that will also include Zambales.

MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President and senatorial candidate Jejomar C. Binay said that the country should develop alternative and indigenous sources of fertilizers to help farmers maintain or increase their incomes and prevent sudden hikes in food prices.

Binay issued the statement from Bataan, where he is on the second leg of his Luzon sortie.

“Malapit na naman ang planting season. Kailangan talagang magkaroon ng alternatibong pagkukunan ng pataba kung hindi ay makakaapekto ito sa dami ng itatanim at presyo ng pagkain,” Binay said.

(Planting season is approaching. We need to have alternative sources of fertilizer that will not affect the yield and prices of food.)

“Dapat ay pangunahan ng pamahalaan ang pagsasaliksik hanggang sa technology transfer, sa tulong ng ating mga eksperto mula sa mga agricultural colleges,” he added.

(The government should lead in the research until technology transfer, with the help of our experts from the agricultural colleges.)

According to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), as of the last week of January 2022, the average retail price of a 50-kilo bag of prilled and granular urea reached P2,517.74 and P2,522.95, respectively.

This is higher than the average retail price of P1,046 and P993.31 in the same period last year.

“Makakatulong ang pagdevelop ng sariling fertilizer industry upang magkaroon ng stable supply at upang hindi magulat ang ating mga magsasaka sa mga biglang pagtaas ng presyo sa buong mundo,” Binay said.

(Developing our own fertilizer industry will help us to have a stable supply and for our farmers to be shielded from sudden hike in global prices.)

He added that while imports can temporarily stabilize supply, developing domestic sources of fertilizers would have long-term effects to our agriculture sector.

“Ayon sa DA, maliit lang ang volume na ating inaangkat kung kaya’t nahihirapan tayong bumili sa mababang halaga, kung kaya’t importante na mayroon tayong sariling supply,” Binay said.

(According to DA, we are importing small volume that is why we are forced to buy in low prices, that is why it is important for us to have our own supply.)

RELATED STORY:

Ex-VP Binay: Working parents should get add’l paid leaves

JPV