Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has joined local sugar planters in asking the national government to look into the high prices of fertilizer.
Lacson, who is also a sugar planter, said this matter had reached the attention of some national officials and even candidates in the May 2022 elections, particularly those running for president.
“We know that the national government is aware of this and many of the presidential candidates have already come up with suggestions on what to do,” he added.
“We don’t have a joint appeal with local planters yet, but this is really up to the national government now if they can do anything about this,” the governor said.
The sugar producers earlier warned of a “disaster” in agricultural productivity, following a more than 100 percent increase in the prices of fertilizer, which may also affect the government’s food security program.
Raymond Montinola, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., said the price of fertilizer in October last year was P845 per bag; now it’s P2,005 per bag.
“The fuel cost last year was only P30 per liter, now it’s P50 per liter, with labor cost also expensive,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar facilitated a meeting among CONFED, the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, and the Planters Products Inc. as early as July for a quick action plan and to link them with a major fertilizer importer-trader for a reasonable pricing.
Meanwhile, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) also called on the Department of Agriculture to request the Department of Trade and Industry to impose a price cap on fertilizer prices.
Montinola said that while the price of Urea fertilizer and related farming costs continue to skyrocket to unprecedented levels, sugar prices remain the same.
Lacson said the suspension of excise tax on fuel may also bring down the skyrocketing prices of fertilizer.
“It’s really in the hands now of the national government if they can suspend the excise tax on fuel. Somehow, this might also be able to bring down the prices,” he added.
Lacson said he hopes that the national leaders will be able to address concerns on the sharp increase in the prices of fertilizer.
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority executive director Wilfredo Roldan cited global demand as the primary reason for the rising fertilizer prices.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, called on the DA to act on the farmers’ complaints about the constantly rising prices of fertilizer products that they said leave them with little to no income.
Zubiri suggested that the DA should work towards turning the fertilizer industry into a local one, so that prices would not go high due to importation fees. — NND
