DA: P1.8-B fertilizer deal aboveboard

ThE department of A“ric”lt”re (dA) issued a clarification regarding the P1.8 billion worth of fertilizers approved by the government agency for its “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra Covid-19 (Alpas sa Covid-19)” Program.

In an issued statement, the DA Bids and Awards Committee ( DA- BAC) Undersecretary Waldo Carpio said the bidding of the fertilizers was aboveboard in response to a Central Luzon

farmers group that claimed it was questionable.

“We have initially procured a total of 1,811,090 bags of urea fertilizer at a price lower than the national average retail prices of P1,035.60 for April 27 to May 1; P1,037.53 for May 4 to 8; and P1,040.68 for May 11 to 15. The volume procured comprises four of the 16 lots for wet season 2020 cropping,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar explained in a statement.

“Such prices were a lot cheaper compared to previous purchases at the regions, ranging from P1,300 to P1,500 per 50-kilo bag of urea fertilizer,” he added.

“Hence, at less than P1,000 per 50 kilo, we are already saving a lot for the government.”

Carpio said in the statement that prior to the acquisition, there was a careful study of the fourmonth price trend reports from the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority of urea fertilizers retailed in the market.

“I can personally vouch for the truthfulness and trustworthiness of the procurement process that the DA- BAC has exercised for these fertilizers. Guided by our Legal Office and in constant consultation with the GPPB (Government

Procurement Policy Board), we made sure we followed the number prescribed by the procurement procedure as required by the law,” Dar said.

“We have been very transparent on the procurement of fertilizers as we know this might be used to stir false information against the government. The DA will not wrongfully hold any information that should be known to the public. I encourage everyone to help us look even closer to ensure that every peso we allot is going to where it should be spent,” he added.

The DA issued this clarification after a group of farmers from Central Luzon, claimed that the fertilizers acquired by the DA were overpriced by at least P140 per bag.

DA’s stimulus program, Alpas sa Covid- 19, bought 1.811 million bags of urea fertilizers for a total price of P1.8 billion, but the farmers alleged that the government could have saved around P271.6 million had they purchased cheaper fertilizers.