SINAG accuses DA of ‘centralized corruption’

Umbrella farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Sunday accused the Department of Agriculture (DA) of "centralized corruption" due to supposedly overpriced supply contracts amounting to P1.8 billion.

In a statement, SINAG chairman Rosendo So dismissed Agriculture Secretary William Dar's statements justifying the contract price for the urea fertilizers procured by the department.

"That's pure fiction. They invented those numbers to justify the overpricing. You can go to any outlet store across Central Luzon and you will not encounter such prices," said So.

"The average price is only at P850 per bag. That means under the negotiated bidding, there's a difference of almost P150 per bag at their price tag of P990 to P995," he added.

Data released by the DA showed that it procured a total of 1.811 million bags of urea fertilizer at P1,035.60 per bag from April 27 to May 1; at P1,037.53 from May 4 to 8; and at P1,040 to May 11 to 15.

Latest data available from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the average price of urea fertilizers was recorded at P1,121.57 per 50-kilogram bag in 2018.

Sought for comment, Agriculture Secretary William Dar in mobile message on Sunday said "The procurement is above board."

Last week, Dar defended the procurement process, saying that such prices were even "a lot cheaper" compared to previous purchases at the regions.

"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, we made sure we followed to the number the prescribed procurement procedure as required by the law," he said last week.

So, however, questioned such claims, saying that farmers can buy fertilizers from outlet stores at P850 per bag.

Two of the several receipts provided by SINAG last week showing urea fertilizer purchases at P830 to P850 a bag.

"Farmers are laughing at the DA for making such a claim, but unfortunately, unscrupulous officials at the DA are probably laughing too, all the way to the bank after making a killing out of the emergency funds meant to protect farmers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

"DA is claiming the higher contract price would cover distribution costs but it is the same for retail outlets. In fact, for retail stores, you go through the importer, the distributor, and the dealer until it reaches the retailer. And at every step there is additional cost, yet the retail price average is only P850. The DA went straight to the importer, but the price is P995 per bag. What kind of deal is that?" he added.

SINAG, led by So, last week called for a Senate investigation into such claims.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, has vowed a probe into the matter. — BM, GMA News