AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered an investigation into the Department of Agriculture's (DA) procurement and distribution of farm input and machinery on Wednesday after farmers' groups raised reports of alleged anomalies in the process.
The department said the order was issued despite a regular review conducted earlier this year, which found no irregularities in the DA’s procurement and distribution processes.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said the new investigation would go beyond standard checks to expose misconduct and ensure that public funds are spent properly.
He noted that last year, the DA looked into similar complaints from farmers' organizations, which led to sanctions against those found at fault.
The DA chief encouraged farmers' groups to help the agency eradicate corruption and misconduct in the agriculture sector.
“We invite these farmers' groups and other organizations to help us ferret out the corrupt within our midst,” he said.
With the increased agriculture budget this year, the DA chief stressed that every peso should translate into concrete benefits for farmers, fisherfolk, and other food producers.
“We cannot allow these taxpayers’ funds to be squandered,” he stated.
Aside from looking into the bidding and procurement process, the secretary also ordered the DA's legal team to investigate reported delays in fertilizer deliveries.
He warned that suppliers found to have unmet obligations may face penalties or blacklisting, signaling stricter contract enforcement as the planting season draws near.
Tiu Laurel added that inorganic fertilizers would be tested by the DA to determine their efficacy in helping boost production, while a new procurement system for inorganic fertilizers is also planned to commence this year.
Farmers would also be allowed to make purchases of eligible products directly using their Intervention Monitoring Card or IMC-linked e-wallet.
Full adoption of these measures is targeted by next year to streamline access to subsidies and lessen leakages in distribution.
The DA said the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is at the heart of the mechanization issue. Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the agency has overseen the disbursement of P5 billion annually for machinery and postharvest facilities.
The allocation for PHilMech under the RCEF is also set to triple following amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law. The office invites farmers to visit their website for real-time data on machine distribution.
PhilMech, meanwhile, denied allegations that their consultations with farmer beneficiaries were "merely token" consultations.
The agency asserted that all its procurements were subject to competitive public bidding in accordance with government procurement laws and auditing rules, with bid notices and outcomes made available to the public through its official platforms.
It said it has procured tractors, rice combine harvesters, and other mechanization technologies from various qualified suppliers to ensure quality, competitiveness, and suitability across a range of farming conditions.
In addition, it said it has conducted in-person interviews and a structured beneficiary selection to match equipment with land conditions, operational capacity, and farmers' production requirements.
PhilMech stressed that it was committed to transparency, accountability and farmer-centered implementation, underscoring that its deployment of technologies was based on validated field needs and long-term sustainability.
The DA said the investigation ordered by Secretary Tiu Laurel puts the spotlight on how agricultural funds are spent, signaling the agency's zero tolerance for inefficiency and abuse in the agricultural sector as it works to restore trust with the country's farming communities.
