Four House members have filed a resolution urging the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the effectiveness of the use of chemical fertilizers in rice production.
House Resolution No. 972 was filed by Congressmen Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Brian Raymund Yamsuan, Dan Fernandez, and Albert Garcia on May 15.
Based on the resolution filed, the lawmakers said that rice production is facing various threats, such as climate changes, and development by pests of resistance.
The resolution seeks to answer the following inquiries:
- whether chemical fertilizers like urea are cheaper than, if not the same, biofertilizers
- whether or not organic inputs or biofertilizers are still untested or have been proven to significantly boost crop yield
The four congressmen cited that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier announced his administration’s effort for the use of biofertilizers in a bid to cut farmers’ use of imported petroleum-based fertilizers.
They stated that the “increasing costs of imported inputs that shrink local farmers' incomes also affect the consumers who bear the brunt of higher food prices because of the increase in production cost are passed on.”
The Philippines imports 95 percent of its fertilizer requirements which makes it vulnerable to conditions that can affect output and prices.
Written By Ailah Francisco, DZRH News Online Intern
