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The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority OIC Executive Director Julieta Lansangan unveiled the plans for F.Y. 2024 during the Department of Agriculture (DA) Internal Budget Hearing held at Hacienda Gracia Resort and Hotel, Lubao, Pampanga on March 13-16, 2023, proposing a total of Php 394,445,000 for continuous regulatory services and upgrades.

The total budget proposal mainly focused on quality control and inspection through intensifying regulatory functions, promoting the Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS), upgrading fertilizer and pesticide regulatory programs and services, and policy reforms through updating the Fertilizer and Pesticide guidelines.

These programs were aligned with the 1st and 4th Strategic Agenda of the Department of Agriculture for boosting local production and strengthening institutions to enhance efficiency and accelerate the modernization of the sector.

Moreover, OIC Lansangan emphasized the need to increase expenditures on the establishment of Border Control Management to address the root cause of the irregularities in the distribution and the proliferation of “off-specification” agricultural inputs in the market.

Through this, FPA plans to strengthen the inspection of imported fertilizers as early as their entry into ports and intensify the Regional Field Unit monitoring activities in remote areas. With this in mind, the budget proposal for F.Y. 2024 was directed to protect the farmers against fraudulent products that are unregistered, tampered with, counterfeit, off-specification, and mislabeled.

Other plans and activities were also presented, such as the amendment of Presidential Decree No. 1144 and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR), the development of a fertilizer and pesticide online system for product registration and licensing, strengthening the enforcement and conduct of entrapment (Buy Bust) operations, expansion of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Laboratory Recognition Program, and a comprehensive information caravan on the safe and judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides.

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY | March 13-14, 2023 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Region IX discussed the Presidential Decree 1144 to more than 100 rice farmers during the Rice Information Caravan under the Rice Banner Program on March 13-14, 2023, in Tungawan and Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Regional Officer (RO) Alex Paalisbo, Provincial Officers (PO) Paulyne Kim Alfuente, and Charlie Limbag elaborated on the different functions and services of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA). They also taught the farmers the proper and effective use of pesticide products to minimize their possible hazards while maximizing their potential for a good harvest.

During the open forum, the team explained the reasons for the increasing prices of fertilizers. They explained that the global fertilizer crisis was due to the increasing prices of fuel, the Ukraine-Russian conflict, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, most fertilizer exporting countries prioritize their local distribution over exportation.

The Information Caravan was organized by DA-RFO IX, which aimed to update programs that rice farmers could benefit from. Other agencies such as DA Soils Laboratory, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the National Food Authority (NFA) attended the activity as well. ###