The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued an order on the guidelines for the selection and use of biological fertilizers or biofertilizers, in a bid to boost the rice production and output of farmers in the country.

This was announced by DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian in a press briefing at the Malacañang on Friday.

In explaining the memorandum, Sebastian recalled that in the past years, the country faced problems in rice production and inputs due to the hefty prices of fertilizers.

“Nakita namin sa Department of Agriculture, kailangan nating hanapan ng paraan na hindi tayo masyadong umaasa sa imported na inorganic fertilizer,” he said.

Sebastian also said that they had also observed that even though there is a fertilizer subsidy given to farmers, the quality of the soil has yet to be enriched.

“Isa sa mga nakita namin solusyon ang malawakang promosyon ng balanced fertilization. Kapag sinabi nating balance, gagamit tayo ng organic fertilizer as basal, gagamitan din natin siya ng biofertilizer para maganda ang decomposition at gaganda rin ang lago ng ating seedlings,” he explained.

“At ang biofertilizer ay nagha-harvest din, iyong kumukuha ng nitrogen sa hangin o kaya sa lupa, at kinu-convert into nitrogen na nakukuha ng halaman. Pagkatapos meron pa ring additional na urea. So iyon ang sinasabi natin balanced fertilization,” the DA Undersecretary added.

In addition to this, Sebastian said the memorandum on biofertilizers was issued to also prevent the repeat of the 2004 fertilizer scam.

"With the many options in the market, we assure you that our regional field offices will follow a good guide in order to have a good implementation of our biofertilizer program," he further said.