Clean-up drive 2022: inspection and monitoring of licensed and unlicensed dealers of fertilizer and agricultural pesticides in the province of Rizal

Written by Mike P. Cuento, Atty. Janelyn I. Aquino-Pabalate, and Ms. Lourdes R. Conde   l  Published: 08 September 2022

September 1-2, 2022 | Rizal Province - In support of the agency's mandate to assure the agricultural sector of adequate supplies of fertilizer and pesticides at reasonable prices and rationalize the manufacture and marketing of fertilizers and agricultural pesticides, the Office of the Executive Director-Field Operations Coordinating Unit (OED-FOCU), and Field Unit-NCR conducted a series of monitoring and inspection of dealers in Region IVA-Rizal. The activity aims to assess dealers' compliance with FPA standards for licensing, handling, occupational health, and safety in fertilizer and pesticide stores and impose penalties and sanctions for violations to set rules and standards.

The inspection team composed of Atty. Janelyn I. Aquino-Pabalate (Attorney IV), Ms. Lourdes R. Conde (Agriculturist II), and Mr. Mike P. Cuento (Agriculturist I) inspected establishments that are involved in the selling and distribution of fertilizer and pesticide products in several cities and municipalities of Rizal such as Cainta, Taytay, Teresa, Baras, and Tanay.

On the first day of the clean-up drive, the team inspected seven (7) establishments selling different FPA-registered fertilizer and pesticide products. Six of them are unlicensed, and one has an expired license. On the second day, the team successfully inspected four stores. Two are active with licenses, one has no license and the other one has an expired LTO. 

As part of the drive, the inspection team verbally warned some store owners who sold small quantities (below 5kgs) of fertilizer and agricultural chemicals without a license. The team also issued six (6) SUMS orders at the end of the activity. SUMS Order was issued to those engaged in selling large quantities of fertilizer and agricultural chemicals without a dealer license. Moreover, SUMS Order shall remain in force until the violated provision in the PD 1144 and its IRR have been complied with or resolved by the dealers.

Furthermore, to intensify the agency's program and for public information, it was clearly explained to the violators that no person should sell and market any pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals except under a license issued by the FPA. The licensing process was also discussed with them, including the requirements and the processing fees. Suppliers of the SUMS products shall also be informed regarding the results of the clean-up drive and shall be asked for their explanation of why they supplied these products to the unlicensed dealers.

The team also monitored the Morong Municipal Composting Site. A sample of compost/finished product was collected for confirmatory analysis. ###