MANILA – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) on Thursday said it has filed a criminal complaint before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Cotabato for alleged unauthorized fertilizer manufacturing in the area.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move seeks to protect the livelihoods of farmers and the welfare of consumers.
“Illegal producers undermine food security by exposing farmers to substandard agricultural inputs that can reduce yields and incomes while posing potential risks to public health and the environment,” he said.
In particular, the FPA filed charges against the owner of DQB Green Agricultural Products Trading for supposed violations of provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1144.
The DQB holds a license as a national distributor, which authorizes it to sell registered fertilizer products to dealers, distributors and retail outlets, according to the FPA.
The license, however, does not authorize manufacturing, formulation, processing, bulk blending, or repacking, all requiring separate licenses and approvals.
Tiu Laurel warned to go after erring individuals and violators as illicit schemes harm Filipino food producers.
“We will continue pursuing violators to protect our farmers and the integrity of the country’s food production system,” he said.
FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada, likewise, vowed to sustain the strict implementation of measures protecting farmers.
“We will continue to pursue individuals and entities that circumvent our regulatory system,” he said.
“These regulations exist to ensure that only safe, properly registered, and quality agricultural inputs reach our farmers, and we will not hesitate to enforce the law against those who violate it,” he added.
The FPA has imposed a preventive suspension for the licenses and product registrations of the DQB, pending administrative proceedings.
Earlier, the agency had already issued a show cause order against the owner of the DQB to provide explanations on alleged violations.
This came after inspecting authorities allegedly found production equipment, packaging materials, and fertilizer bags bearing the label “TAKADA 14-14-14,” a product registered under another company, VALAP Inc., during an inspection conducted at a facility in Barangay Saguing, Makilala, North Cotabato, last Feb. 20.
“Spinning Palanggana” method, a manual mixing process, was also reportedly found to be used.
Under FPA Memorandum Circular 2022-23, the process is prohibited as it fails to meet prescribed manufacturing and quality control standards. (PNA)
