Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap Saturday said he is supporting efforts of the Sugar Regulatory Administration to import fertilizer to bring down sugar production cost, and government loans to Cadiz fishermen whose vessels sank when typhoon Frank hit.

Yap, who joined the Planters Association of Southern Negros Inc. on its silver anniversary in Binalbagan, told the DAILY STAR he is supporting efforts of the SRA and the Philippine Sugar Corp. to import fertilizer to try to bring down its cost.

This will depend on whether a reputable supplier can be found, he said.

SRA Administrator Rafael Coscolluela said Saturday that PHILSUCOR will finance Planters Products importation of urea from Russia that hopefully will bring down cost by P400 per bag.

Paper work is being finalized and the target is to bring in 12,500 tons of urea by September or October as a first shipment, he said.

Cocolluela said the SRA is also looking for local alternatives to 18-46-0 fertilizer such as organic or local rock phosphate, or importation from Indonesia.

Yap said he urging the sugar industry to continue finding ways to produce value added products, including ethanol, to boost its earnings.

FISHING INDUSTRY

Yap said he is also supporting efforts to assist Cadiz fishermen through loans being facilitated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which is under his department.

Drusila Esther Bayate, Western Visayas BFAR head, had earlier said interest-free loans will be made available from the Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund and a workshop on how to avail of it will be held in Bacolod today.

RICE SUPPLY

Meanwhile, Yap said that, with the main rice harvest season set from September and December, the Philippines has adequate supply of rice.

We have enough rice supply to ensure that rice prices stabilize, Yap said, but added that he could not say how much he expected retail prices to drop.

VAT

In his speech before the PASON, Yap also defended the government’s continued implementation of the Value Added Tax. The P10 billion earned from VAT, he said, is needed by government to address the needs of the country’s poor.*CPG

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