The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is finding ways to make fertilizers more affordable and will come out with a recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Social media posts from the Office of the President showed the President met with DTI officials led by Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual on Wednesday to iron out plans to realize his administration’s goal of increasing food productivity to ensure the country’s food security.
“Foremost in the President’s mind is to protect agriculture. And part of the concerns of our farmers is the prices of fertilizer. So this was among those things that were discussed with the DTI secretary,” said Trixie Angeles, press secretary, at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.
When asked if price caps are being considered, Angeles said Malacanang will wait for DTI’s recommendations.
Marcos had taken on the additional job as concurrent agricultural secretary amid a potential food crisis brought about by the rising prices and limited supply.
Angeles said the President will make public if the country has written or forged agreements with other countries for possible supply of more affordable fertilizer. – Jocelyn Montemayor
