Senator asks agri department to act on soaring fertilizer prices

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to submit a comprehensive plan of action to fertilizers problem in response to complaints of the sugarcane workers and farmers on soaring prices.

Zubiri said that he temporarily held the approval of the DA’s budget for 2022 until the plenary deliberations after the submission of plans on how to address the problem on high fertilizer prices, and what concrete steps they would take to lower the prices of fertilizer.

Zubiri met leaders of 35 sugar federations in Bacolod City during the weekend.

He admitted that the problem of high fertilizer prices is occurring not only in the Philippines, but also in the international scene.

“The price of Urea, a by-product of fossil fuel, is pegged to the price of crude oil,” Zubiri said.

Urea fertilizers now costs more than P2,000 per bag, compared to P800 to P900 four months ago.

Earlier, sugar industry leaders are asking for a price cap and government intervention to address the soaring prices of fertilizers.

Crude oil prices have been rising due to the gradual reopening of the global economy after the onset of COVID-19.

“However, there should be at least some sort of subsidy, or a concrete plan – long-term, medium term, short-term plan – not only for the sugar industry, but also for the entire agriculture sector,” Zubiri said.

With prices of fuel expected by the National Economic Development Authority to rise to $100 per barrel, which is currently at $80, Zubiri said “we don’t see an end to increase of fertilizer cost,” as of this time, if we rely on market forces.

But he assured sugar industry leaders that he will continue to protect the sugar industry, which is the lifeblood of Negros Occidental and 19 provinces that depend on sugar.