Cotabato: The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) on Thursday announced that it has filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Cotabato. The complaint is directed against the alleged unauthorized manufacturing of fertilizers in the area.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that this legal action aims to safeguard farmers' livelihoods and consumer welfare. He highlighted the threat posed by illegal producers who compromise food security by supplying substandard agricultural inputs, potentially reducing yields and incomes while posing risks to public health and the environment.
The FPA's charges target the owner of DQB Green Agricultural Products Trading for violating provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1144. While DQB is licensed as a national distributor, allowing it to sell registered fertilizer products to dealers, distributors, and retail outlets, it lacks the necessary authorizations for manufacturing, formulation, processing, bulk blending, or repacking.
Tiu Laurel expressed a firm commitment to pursuing violators of these regulations, noting the detrimental impact of illicit activities on Filipino food producers. He stated, "We will continue pursuing violators to protect our farmers and the integrity of the country's food production system."
FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada also affirmed the agency's commitment to enforcing regulations designed to protect farmers. He stated, "We will continue to pursue individuals and entities that circumvent our regulatory system," and stressed the importance of ensuring that only safe, registered, and quality agricultural inputs reach farmers.
The FPA has imposed a preventive suspension on the licenses and product registrations of DQB, pending administrative proceedings. The agency had previously issued a show cause order to the owner of DQB to address alleged violations.
The complaint followed an inspection at a facility in Barangay Saguing, Makilala, North Cotabato, on February 20, where authorities reportedly discovered production equipment, packaging materials, and fertilizer bags labeled 'TAKADA 14-14-14,' a product registered under another company, VALAP Inc. Additionally, the inspection revealed the use of a manual mixing process known as 'Spinning Palanggana,' which is prohibited under FPA Memorandum Circular 2022-23 due to its failure to meet manufacturing and quality control standards.
