The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ready to look for other importers of fertilizers if the country’s supply and price will be affected amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.
”Nakausap po natin kanina lamang po si DA Secretary Laurel at sinabi po niya na ready naman po at kung mangyayari man po ito, maaari po tayong kumuha sa ibang parte ng mundo na malapit sa atin katulad po ng Brunei,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Tuesday.
(We talked to Agriculture Secretary Laurel and he said they are ready and if this will happen, the Philippines can find fertilizer suppliers from other countries including Brunei.)
”At nakikita rin naman po ng DA na hindi naman ito magdudulot ng pangmatagalan na problema lalong-lalo na po kung hindi naman daw po isasara ang sea lanes so let’s just pray for that,” she added.
(The DA also sees that it will not be a long-term problem especially that the sea lanes will not be closed.)
Earlier, Albay 2nd district Representative Joey Salceda warned that the ongoing tension between the two countries could lead to a spike in local fertilizer prices.
He said Qatar is one of the major suppliers and any disruption in Gulf shipping will result in an increase in domestic fertilizer prices.
The air war between Iran and Israel — which began on Friday when Israel attacked Iran with air strikes — has raised alarms in a region that had already been on edge since the start of Israel’s military assault on Gaza in October 2023. —RF, GMA Integrated News
