PBBM wants G2G deals for cheaper fertilizers

RECOGNIZING the need for local farmers to have affordable fertilizers to achieve higher yield in their crops, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is eyeing government-to-government (G2G) negotiations to address the rising prices of fertilizers and compost.

As concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Chief Executive opined that government could avail of cheaper fertilizers through the G2G deals: “Gusto tayong tulungan, gusto tayong lapitan, eh ‘di take advantage naman tayo, ‘di ba?”

“Sige bigyan n’yo kami ng fertilizer na medyo maganda-ganda ang presyo. That’s the whole point of G2G,” he pointed out to key agriculture officials during a meeting at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall in Quezon City to primarily discuss ways to increase local food production.

The former senator further disclosed that he is looking into communicating with China, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysi, and Russia for procurement of much-needed fertilizers that would help our agricultural lands to produce better yield and harvest.

“I’m thinking would it be useful for us if sulatan ko silang lahat . . . and I’ll say that we are in the market to buy this volume of fertilizer,” he cited.

Marcos has instructed DA officials to provide data on the source of and price of fertilizers as well as the department’s distribution plan during the upcoming planting season even as he identified increasing rice production and reorganizing the DA and its attached agencies as “pressing issues” that impact the agricultural sector.

Marcos likewise asked the agriculture department to come up with a farm-to-market road (FMR) master plan that would serve as a guide for the government in its bid to promote food security and empower rural communities.