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BENGUET | September 2, 2022 – The FPA-CAR partnered with various government agencies and the private sector to deliver informational activities as part of the Agency’s mandate. For August, the region was able to educate 596 participants, comprising 466 farmers and fisherfolks, 99 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), and 31 potential fertilizer and pesticide dealers.

The team headed by Mr. Rogelio B. Tanguid conducted safe and judicious use of fertilizer and pesticide products cum Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) lectures during the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training and other capability buildings

A total of six trainings were conducted in Benguet and Baguio City. These trainings were in collaboration with the different private and public organizations. These include:

• The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Benguet for their Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. The GAP training was conducted on August 03, at Central Barangay Hall, Kapangan, with 19 officers and selected Kapangan Central Credit and Savings Cooperative members.
• The DA-CAR, for the beneficiaries of the livelihood project through the Adaptation Mitigation Initiative for Agriculture (AMIA) Project. The training was conducted last August 04, at Abatan, Buguias, with 40 farmers as participants.
• The Office of the Municipal Agriculture – LGU La Trinidad, which 37 farmers attended. The training was conducted at Benguet State University (BSU) Gladiola Center on August 11.
• The DA-CAR and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – CAR for the “Training on Site Specific Nutrient Management Nutrient Expert for Maize.” A total of 34 AEWs attended the training on August 23 and 31
• A training on “Retooling on Chemical Handling and Management” by Baguio National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI-BNCRDPSC) was conducted last August 24, 2022. A total of 30 field personnel of BPI attended the activity.
• 347 farmers attended the 1st Kiangan Farmers and Fisherfolks Week last August 25, 2022, at Poblacion, Kiangan, Ifugao. FPA-CAR discussed the safe and effective use of fertilizer and pesticide products. The activity was in collaboration with the LGU Ifugao.

On the other hand, there were two trainings conducted in Kalinga. These include the training on the safe and effective use of fertilizer and pesticide products conducted last August 08, 2022, at the Legislative Building, PBR Compound, Liwan West, Rizal, Kalinga. A total of 35 participants attended the activity. This was in collaboration with the Municipal Local Government of Rizal, Kalinga, together with the Civic Society Organization officers and representatives. Moreover, a GAP training on bananas was conducted for 22 members of the Daram-Cudal Multipurpose Cooperative. The said activity was conducted last August 16, 2022, in collaboration with DAR-Kalinga and the Office of the Agricultural Services – Kalinga.

Apart from the collaborative trainings, the team also conducted two Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) training attended by 31 participants from Ifugao and Benguet. The training was conducted last August 11-12, 2022, and August 15-16, 2022, respectively. ASD is part of the information campaign of the Agency on the safe use of f/p. To date, four establishments have been granted a License to Operate as a dealer.

Through the continuing partnerships and collaborations with various agencies, more activities in the following months will be participated in by the FPA-CAR. They aim to discuss the safe and effective use of FP products cum BFS to strengthen the understanding of the farmers in these topics.

Further, the team coordinated with the CIDG Benguet PFU to file a case against an unscrupulous dealer of unregistered pesticide products. The case was filed last August 16, 2022, for violations of sections 8 & 9 of the PD1144.

The team assured its partners that they would continue their partnership with the stakeholders to strengthen the region’s information and enforcement campaign. ###

DAVAO DEL NORTE AND DAVAO DE ORO | August 31, 2022 – Deputy Executive Director for Pesticide Eric C. Divinagracia led the meeting of fertilizer and pesticide stakeholders in the Davao Region to update them about the fertilizer and pesticide situation in the country.

He and the FPA Davao Office, led by Supervising Agriculturist Marissa G. Napalit had the chance to address some of the pressing issues such as fertilizer supply and enforcement regulations with Fertilizer and Pesticide Dealers Association of Davao del Norte Inc. (FAPDADI) on August 23 and Fertilizer and Pesticide Dealers Association of Compostela Valley Inc. (FAPDACI) on August 26, 2022. A total of 99 participants attended the meeting.

During the program, Ms. Cheery B. Agrade and Mr. Rustom Gain Tanduyan updated the dealers on the new and existing rules on product registration, licensing of handlers, awareness of the banned and restricted pesticides. They also reminded them to be vigilant in purchasing fertilizer and pesticide products.

Moreover, Ms. Marrisa G. Napalit discussed with the dealers the reasons for the fertilizer price hike and the importance of using the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS). She also discussed the latest laws and issuances of the Agency in line with the fake and off-specs fertilizers and pesticides, and the issuance of Stop Use, Move, Sale (SUMS) Order to the violators. Moreover, Ms. Napalit reiterated that the dealers should always check for legitimacy and the authenticity of the f/p products by checking their active product registration and license to operate, which can be viewed on the FPA’s website.

Mr. Eric C. Divinagracia emphasized to the dealers of patronizing fertilizer and pesticide products from FPA-licensed suppliers or distributors. “Always ask for the Certificate of Product Registration (CPR), License to Operate (LTO), and consult with FPA field officers for further verification as needed,” Mr. Divinagracia said.

Moreover, the FPA plans to conduct a refresher course for the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) since they became the main target of those selling f/p products due to the lack of awareness. Mr. Divinagracia urged FPA Davao Region to implement this course of action since there is a need to update the knowledge and awareness of the stakeholders, especially the dealers. He then thanked all the association officers and the members for their continued support to FPA in positively carrying out its mandate. ###

ORIENTAL MINDORO | AUGUST 31, 2022 – Twenty-one (21) fertilizer and pesticide handlers in the municipalities of Bansud, Gloria, and Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro were randomly monitored by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Regional Field Unit IV (FPA RFU IV) last August 22-23, 2022.

Of the 21 handlers, 2 were fertilizer warehouses, and 19 were dealers. In addition, the team was able to identify two unlicensed dealers. These unlicensed dealers signified that they would immediately process their License to Operate (LTO) as dealers and follow the protocol of the Agency. They were also able to attend the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) training conducted last August 24-25, 2022, as part of the initial requirements for their LTO. 

During the Clean-up Drive (CUD) operation, the team also distributed information materials on the triple rinsing of empty pesticide bottles. Dealers were instructed to display the information materials in an area where farmers could easily see and read them. Further, dealers were advised to be cautious about purchasing their fertilizer products as there were reported incidents of the proliferation of fake products in the market. They were advised to buy only from legit fertilizer distributors in their area. The team urged dealers to report suspected fake and off-specification products being offered to them by agents.

Regional Officer (RO) Suzettie M. Alcaide and the team also discussed the recent issuances and fertilizer regulations with the fertilizer warehouse owners. “Being the major source of fertilizer products in the province, they are committed to follow the Agency’s rules and regulations. Moreover, they assured us that all fertilizer products that they will distribute to their dealers are legitimate,” Ms. Alcaide said.

The team was composed of RO Suzettie M. Alcaide and Provincial Officers (PO) Dexter Oliver O. Leynes, Georlene P. Orbista, Mark Nicky S. Larga, and Allan Jade Rojo. ###

QUEZON PROVINCE | August 30, 2022 – Provincial Officer (PO) of Quezon, Edmar C. Bundalian, acted as one of the resource speakers and discussed the concept of Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) during the Agricultural Training Institute – CALABARZON information caravan for Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Beneficiaries on August 26, 2022 in Tagkawayan, Quezon.

“The main objective of BFS is to help reduce the dependency of rice farmers on the use of 

traditional fertilizers and help soil fertility and structure through the appropriate combination of 

organic and inorganic fertilizers,” Mr. Bundalian emphasized. 

Mr. Bundalian also highlighted the role of the FPA as one of the lead agencies in implementing the BFS program, particularly in educating farmers on the practice of BFS. Moreover, he encouraged the farmers to purchase FPA-registered fertilizers other than the commonly used traditional fertilizers.  

He also discussed the increasing prices of traditional fertilizers. He highlighted in his presentation that the global fertilizer crisis is due to the rising prices of fuel, the Ukraine-Russian conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, most fertilizer exporting countries prioritize their local distribution over exportation.

The activity was concluded by a recorded closing remark of Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, OIC Training Center Superintendent II of ATI IV-A, who acknowledged the significance of BFS in reducing the 

production cost without sacrificing crop yield. 

The activity was participated by more than 50 farmers who are mostly RCEF beneficiaries. ###

Bohol | August 30, 2022 – Thirty (30) fertilizer and pesticide dealers were inspected during a Clean-Up Drive (CUD) operation in the Province of Bohol on August 16-19, 2022.

Upon inspection, two (2) fertilizer and pesticide dealers were found to have committed minor violations, which were immediately addressed. Primarily, these violations pertained to good housekeeping, specifically food storage. While twenty (20) dealers carried out their activities without an FPA license.

The dealers with minor offenses were warned verbally and advised to store food separately from fertilizers and pesticides. Meanwhile, all unlicensed dealers were issued Notice of Violations (NoVs) and ordered to complete the Accredited Safety Dispensers (ASD) training, which is one of the requirements for acquiring an FPA license.

FPA RFU VII also distributed IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials such as gabay sa tamang paggamit ng abono at pestisidyo. ###

ORIENTAL MINDORO | August 30, 2022 – As part of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority’s mandate to educate the agricultural sector on the use of fertilizer and pesticide products, FPA RFU-IV held a training on Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) for fertilizer and pesticide dealers last August 24-25, 2022 at El Puebo Rhizort, Mahal na Pangalan, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. 

The training was attended by 95 participants, 83 from Oriental Mindoro and 12 from Occidental Mindoro. The said training is one of the requirements for acquiring an FPA dealership license.

ASD’s responsibilities include advising buyers/end-users on the safe use, handling, and storage of fertilizer and pesticide products, keeping records of fertilizer and pesticide product sales and disposition, making them available for inspection by FPA, and ensuring that only FPA-registered fertilizer and pesticide products are dispensed. 

The topics discussed during the training include FPA governing rules and regulations, general information about pesticides, safe handling of pesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), recognition and first aid management of pesticide poisoning cases, soils, fertilizer, safe handling of fertilizer, and good housekeeping. 

The activity also served as an avenue to update the FPA stakeholders on the current policies and issuances of the Agency, especially those related to fake and off-specification fertilizer products. 

Regional Officer (RO) Suzettie Alcaide reminded the dealers to be cautious about purchasing fertilizer products and ensure that their supplies will only come from legitimate distributors to ensure quality products. She also emphasized that as licensed dealers, they should serve as a partner of FPA to ensure strict implementation of FPA rules and regulations. 

Further, she appealed to always protect the interest of the farmers in doing their business. “If we will sell fake and ineffective products to our farmers, the tendency is that they will not probably get a good yield and they will go bankrupt, which will eventually discourage them from planting for the next cropping season, and if that will happen, your business will also be affected as a consequence. It is a domino effect, so please, let us protect our farmers, our consumers, and the Philippine agriculture industry,” Ms. Alcaide said.  

RO Alcaide was accompanied by her team composed of , Mr. Dexter Oliver O. Leynes, Mr. Froilan T. Bañaga, Mr. Allan Jade V. Rojo, Mr. Mark Nicky S. Larga and Ms. Georlene P. Orbista, Agriculturist II of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Cavite, Laguna and Marinduque, and Batangas, respectively. Additionally, Mr. Engracio “Bong” Baral, Operations Manager of Zeal Ecological Nature (ZENCOR) Corp., also serves as a speaker on pesticide safe handling as part of their product stewardship program. ###

LAOAG CITY | August 25, 2022 – 1,380 bags of off-specs 14-14-14 fertilizers were pulled out in the market by Valap Inc., upon the order of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. Witnesses by Mr. Noel M. Tablada, FPA Ilocos Norte Provincial Officer, and Mr. Nestor Diaz of Valap Inc, the pull-out was implemented on August 17, 2022, at St. Ruiz Agro FS and GM’s Warehouse in Brgy. 53 Rioeng, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The said fertilizers are being manufactured by Valap Inc.

“Fertilizers are designed to meet the crop’s nutrient needs throughout the growing period in order to thrive. Therefore, buying or applying off-specs fertilizer without the farmers’ knowledge may greatly affect the growth and yield of a certain crop. Plants do not get enough fertilizers and may be malnourished, which makes them more susceptible to infestation resulting in low yield,” Mr. Tablada said.

The Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines provide that for inorganic fertilizer and fortified organic fertilizers, the minimum permissible tolerance of each of the guaranteed nutrients should not be less than 98%, and the moisture content should not exceed 2%

“In this case, the subject fertilizer did not meet the specifications required because, as per our laboratory analysis, Takada’s NPK 14-14-14 has 3.56% of N, and 6.61% K, which were way beyond its guaranteed analysis of 14%. Further, NPK results also showed 6.52% MC, which is way up high from 2% allowable MC,” Mr. Tablada explained.

Two trucks loaded with 1,000 bags and 380 bags, respectively, were used to haul the products back to the company’s manufacturing plant for further improvement of their registered NPK guaranteed level.

“We will continue to monitor and assess the progress made by Valap, Inc. because we want the farmers to get quality fertilizers,” Mr. Tablada ended. ###

Reference: Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines (Bluebook), page 13

CAMARINES SUR | August 26, 2022 – Fifty-three (53) fertilizer and pesticide dealers were inspected during a Clean-Up Drive (CUD) operation on August 23-26, 2022, in the Province of Camarines Sur (first and second district).

Out of the 53 dealers, FPA Bicol Region found eighteen (18) unlicensed dealers. The unlicensed dealers were issued with Notice of Violations (NoVs) and required them to attend the Accredited Safety Dispenser (ASD) training, which is a pre-requisite in obtaining an FPA license to operate as dealers. 

On the other hand, compliant dealers were commended and encouraged to be partners of FPA in ensuring the safety of the fertilizer and pesticide users. Also, they are informed to avoid purchasing off-specification products from companies with suspension orders.

During the said enforcement activities, the FPA RFU V personnel also made a courtesy call to the Office of Municipal Agriculturist, Municipality of Pasacao, and discussed the different FPA-Bicol activities. In addition, the team also distributed the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) handbook and FPA Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials.

The team was headed by Regional Officer Mr. Gabriel B. Atole, FPA-Cam. Norte Provincial Officer Engr. Cris L. Legaspi, FPA-Albay Provincial Officer Mr. Winsor L. Nueva, FPA-Cam. Sur and Catanduanes Provincial Officer Engr. Christopher M. Nuñez, FPA-Masbate Provincial Officer Mr. Rodny P. Conda and FPA-Sorsogon Provincial Officer Engr. Ardon Ryan E. Nee-Estuye. ###

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL | August 30, 2022 – Thirty (30) participants from different municipalities in the Province of Bohol attended the Accredited Safety Dispensers (ASD) training on August 24, 2022, held in Reynas the Haven and Gardens, Tagbilaran City.

ASD training is one of the requirements for the License to Operate (LTO) as a dealer. It refers to an individual who attended the 2-day training conducted by FPA and passed the examinations administered by the Regional Field Units (RFUs). They must be present at the store during business hours to properly dispense fertilizer and pesticide products to farmers and supervise, advise, and assist buyers on the safe handling and storage of agricultural inputs.

Regional Officer (RO) Arnulfo L. Arausa, Jr. gave an overview of the training, and emphasized the important roles of an ASD in maintaining the quality of the needed inputs and providing helpful information to farmers regarding fertilizers and pesticides’ effective and efficient use.

During the morning session, Provincial Officer (PO) Andy Cornell Bornillo talked about the Agency’s mandate and the regulations governing the fertilizer and pesticide industries. While soil, fertilizer, and plant growth were discussed by Ms. Adoracion Dela Cruz – Chief of DA-APCO Bohol laboratory services. Meanwhile, PO Sunday Flores explained the fertilizer, soil conditioners/amendments, specialty fertilizers, and plant growth promoters. Finally, Mr. Robert Leano, Area Manager of Atlas Fertilizer Corporation, shared inputs about fertilizer handling and storage.

In the afternoon session, RO Arausa shared the general information on pesticides. While PO Jesus Muring discussed pesticide safe handling, storage, and transport. Moreover, Ms. Lyra Pangan Adlaon, R.N., discussed the topic on pesticide poisoning and first aid. Lastly, the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept was discussed by Mr. Ian Egam – DA SAAD Provincial Coordinator.

Towards the end of the activity, FPA Region VII gave out informational materials that would serve as references to the participants. ###

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON | August 30, 2022 – FPA Region X spearheaded by Regional (RO) Ma. Sonia C. Calleja discussed the fertilizer situation to the 49 members of the Bukidnon Agricultural Supply Dealers Association (BASDA) last August 25, 2022, at Jocel’s Garden, Lumbo, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

RO Calleja presented the reasons for the increasing fertilizer prices. In her discussion, she highlighted that the global fertilizer crisis is due to the rising prices of fuel, the Ukraine-Russian conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, most fertilizer exporting countries prioritize their local distribution over exportation.

It is worth noting that the country has long been a net importer of fertilizers. About 90% of the country’s needs for fertilizer are mostly imported from China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In addition, some are being imported from Qatar, Canada, Korea, and the Middle East, while local production accounts for only 10% of the country’s fertilizer supply.

To address the issue, the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies implemented the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS). BFS is a program that includes the FPA and other DA agencies involved in farming. The idea of the program is to institutionalize the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers and other forms of strategies (i.e. green manuring or cover cropping, individual farm soil fertility maps, diversifying and improving cropping system, etc.) to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while maintaining soil structure and fertility.

The said strategy applies the 4Rs in fertilization: Right Source, Right Placement, Right Amount, and Right Rate to help enhance soil health and productivity, prevent the decline in soil fertility, and improve fertilizer availability and costs.

The meeting was organized by Christie D. Lim and Charles Joseph C. Follosco – Provincial Officers of Bukidnon. ###

Source: Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) Program The FPA Commitment in the OneDA Approach.