Fertilizer suppliers probed over quality concerns

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) said it has launched an investigation into several fertilizer suppliers with government contracts and suspended the release of their products following reports of substandard quality.

In a statement on Sunday, the DA said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. directed procurement and warehouse officials on March 5 to halt the distribution of fertilizer from several suppliers while the DA and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) undertake a full review of the products.

The DA said the investigation targets suppliers flagged in preliminary FPA quality tests, including Agri‑Victorious Trading Corp., DQB Green Agricultural Products Trading, Valap Inc., Dos Asia Chemical Trading Corp., and Rova Fertilizer Manufacturing.

“We agreed to pay the price they bid, yet they delivered substandard products. That is highway robbery, and we will not allow it. They have no shame,” Mr. Laurel was quoted as saying in a statement.

According to the DA, no stocks from the identified suppliers may be released, distributed, or utilized until the review is concluded and formal clearance is issued by the Office of the Secretary.

DA personnel were also ordered to submit reports on pending deliveries, ongoing transactions, and other documentation to aid the assessment, the DA said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel