DA eyes releasing P6,600 fertilizer subsidy to farmers this January

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it hopes to release the P6,600 subsidy to farmers this month as it awaits the approval of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Yung atin pong binibigay po ngayon na abono na P6,600 per hectare sa atin pong mga magsasaka, yan po ay hindi pa po natin [ma]implement,” DA deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez said at a televised public briefing.

(We have yet to implement the P6,600 fertilizer subsidy per hectare for farmers.)

“This January we're expecting itong, dry season po, mapatupad po natin yan (We are expecting this January, this dry season, we will be able to implement that),” he added.

The DA was not able to implement the program immediately because the total budget for the P6,600 fertilizer subsidy per hectare exceeds the allowed budget that regional directors can release.

Due to this, the program needs the approval of Marcos, according to Estoperez.

“Yung P6,600 per hectare at maximum of two hectares ay masyadong mataas po ang budget na involved dyan na hindi na po sangayon sa signing authority ng regional directors,” Estoperez said.

(The budget for the P6,600 fertilizer subsidy per hectare at maximum of two hectares is too high which is not aligned with the signing authority of regional directors.)

“Hopefully, we are expecting na approval ng Pangulo yung P6,600 hectare sa atin pong magsasaka na mapirmahan na po yan nang sa ganun ma-implement na po natin. Hinihintay po natin ang approval ng ating Pangulo para nang sa ganun magawa po yung IRR nito,” he said.

Once approved, the DA will draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the program. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News