Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a nationwide survey of farmer-beneficiaries as the Department of Agriculture intensifies its investigation into alleged substandard seeds, questionable fertilizer grades, and faulty farm machinery distributed under government programs.
Even before the survey began, Tiu Laurel said the department’s Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority had already investigated and is preparing initial legal actions against two fertilizer firms in the Caraga Region for violating agency regulations.
“We want to hear from the actual beneficiaries. If there are issues in the after-sales service or any defects in the machinery, they will all be revealed in the survey,” he said, stressing that the agency cannot rely solely on unverified complaints, even as allegations of corruption and graft have surfaced.
The complaints, lodged by a farmers’ group, are being taken seriously, although routine audits have not flagged systemic irregularities.
Tiu Laurel has ordered a more thorough investigation, aiming to complete it within March and submit a formal report to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and congressional oversight committees after Holy Week.
The survey will engage recipients of machinery, post-harvest facilities, seeds, and fertilizers from the DA and attached agencies, including the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
“The goal is to replace anecdote with verifiable data. We are not sweeping anything under the rug. If there are shortcomings or wrongdoings, we will address them,” Tiu Laurel said, noting reports of isolated breakdowns, including a Chinese-brand combine harvester.
Suppliers with weak service networks or contract violations could face penalties or blacklisting, he added.
The review also covers seeds and fertilizers following the introduction of intervention monitoring cards, or IMCs, under an improved system for more transparent and accountable fertilizer distribution.
A pilot will be conducted this year in Southern Leyte, with a nationwide rollout planned for 2027 if successful.
