Push Admin

DA allots P4 billion fertilizer subsidy for farmers amid soaring prices

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt=" Ilocos countryside in the Ilocos region on February 16, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/03/24/20220216-marcos-solid-north-jc-094612360_ios.jpg"/><figcaption>Ilocos countryside in the Ilocos region on February 16, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allotted some P4 billion worth of fertilizer subsidy for farmers amid its soaring prices compounded by the rising fuel cost, an official said on Thursday. </p><p>Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the subsidy would be available through vouchers. It was not immediately clear how many farmers would benefit from this. </p><p>&quot;Yan po ngayon ang pinakaproblema, ang presyo ng abono, fertilizers. Ito ay by-product ng oil industry. Kaya karamihan ang fertilizer inaangkat natin sa oil producing countries,&quot; Reyes explained in a public briefing.</p><p>(That&#x27;s our problem now, the high prices of fertilizers. This is the by-product of the oil industry. That is why many of our fertilizers are imported from oil-producing companies.)</p><p>&quot;Tumaas, nagdoble, nagtriple [ang presyo]. Namimigay na rin ang DA niyan, may P4 billion for that... &#x27;Yan ang ina-address,&quot; he added. </p><p>(Its prices already went up double or triple. The DA will distribute... the allotted P4 billion to address the problem.)</p><p>To conserve organic and inorganic fertilizers, he said, the agency implemented the large-scale use of biostimulants to boost crop quality. </p><p>&quot;Para pandagdag... gumanda pa rin ang ani kahit kalahati na ng inorganic ang na-apply, dinadagdag naman ang biostimulants at biofertilizers. &#x27;Yan ang tulong through our regional field offices,&quot; he said.</p><p>(To improve the crop&#x27;s quality even if we only apply half of the inorganic fertilizer, we added biostimulants and biodertilizers. That&#x27;s the help given by our regional field offices.) </p><p>Aside from this, Reyes said the DA is already distributing the fuel discount vouchers for farmers and fisherfolk. Around 158,000 will benefit from this, each of whom would get P3,000. </p><p>Authorities have already approved another P600 million subsidy for the next tranche, he said. </p><p>The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) earlier this month bared that fertilizer prices went up amid strong demand from India and other countries. China&#x27;s ban on fertilizer exports also added to the problem. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/07/22/as-fertilizer-costs-soar-ph-looks-to-china-iran">As fertilizer prices spike, Philippines looks to China, Iran for supplies and discount</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/23/22/fertilizer-shortage-threatens-world-food-supply">Fertilizer shortage threatens world food supply as sanctions bite Russia</a></li></ul><p>FPA Director Wilfredo Roldan, in a TeleRadyo interview, said the agriculture department appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to increase the subsidy to P12 billion. </p><p>The Philippines is seeking supplies from Indonesia, Malaysia and Iran to cushion the impact. So far, only Iran had a firm offer, he said. <br/> <br/>Western sanctions on Russia, a major exporter of potash, ammonia, urea and other soil nutrients, have disrupted shipments of those key inputs around the globe. Fertilizer is key to keeping corn, soy, rice and wheat yields high.</p><p>Global fertilizer prices were already high prior to Russia&#x27;s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, as record natural gas and coal prices forced some fertilizer makers to cut output in that energy-hungry sector.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Reuters</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1974607" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Courtesy PTV</em></div><div> </div>

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the subsidy would be available through vouchers. 

DA allots P4 billion fertilizer subsidy for farmers amid soaring prices

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Business

DA allots P4 billion fertilizer subsidy for farmers amid soaring prices

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 24, 2022 01:38 PM PHT

Read More:

fertilizer

high prices fertilizer

fertilizer cost

fertilizer subsidy farmers

Department of Agriculture

DA

high fuel prices

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.