DA Launches Nationwide Survey of Farm Aid Recipients Amid Probe Into Seeds, Fertilizers, and Machinery
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a nationwide ground survey of farmer-beneficiaries as the Department of Agriculture (DA) intensifies its investigation into allegations of substandard seeds, questionable fertilizer grades, and unreliable farm machinery distributed through government programs.
Tiu Laurel said the survey aims to gather direct feedback from farmers and cooperatives who received agricultural inputs and equipment from the DA and its attached agencies.
“We want to hear from the actual beneficiaries,” he said, noting that the survey will reveal if there are issues with after-sales services or defects in the distributed machinery. He added that the department cannot rely solely on unverified complaints, even as allegations of corruption and irregularities have surfaced.
Even before the nationwide assessment begins, the DA’s Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has already completed an initial probe into fertilizer suppliers in the Caraga Region in Mindanao. The agency is now preparing legal actions against two firms for violations of FPA regulations.
The complaints were raised by a farmers’ group and are being taken seriously by the DA, although routine audits have not detected widespread irregularities. Tiu Laurel nonetheless ordered a more thorough investigation, with the department aiming to complete the probe within March and submit a formal report to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the agriculture oversight committees in Congress after Holy Week.
As part of the review, the DA will conduct a region-by-region survey covering recipients of farm machinery, post-harvest facilities, seeds, and fertilizers distributed by the agency and its attached offices, including the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
Farmers and cooperatives will be asked about equipment performance, availability of spare parts, after-sales service support, and their overall satisfaction with the government assistance.
Tiu Laurel said the objective is to replace anecdotal reports with verified data that can guide policy decisions. He also refuted claims that procurement favored a single supplier, explaining that farm machinery has been sourced from several international manufacturers, including Kubota and Yanmar, as well as rice-processing technologies from Bühler Group and Satake.
He acknowledged reports of isolated equipment breakdowns, including a Chinese-brand combine harvester cited in media reports, and assured that each case will be investigated. Suppliers found to have weak service support or contract violations may face penalties or possible blacklisting.
The review also covers seed and fertilizer distribution. While rejecting proposals to shift to a voucher-based seed system, Tiu Laurel said the DA is introducing Intervention Monitoring Cards (IMCs) as a more transparent method for tracking fertilizer assistance.
A pilot implementation of the IMC system will begin this year in Southern Leyte, with a nationwide rollout planned by 2027 if the system proves effective.
“We are not sweeping anything under the rug,” Tiu Laurel said. “If there are shortcomings or wrongdoing, we will address them.”
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