Photo credit: Senate PH

In a move to alleviate the Philippines' heavy reliance on imported chemical fertilizers, Senator Cynthia Villar has spearheaded the establishment of new composting facilities nationwide.

The initiative aims to counter the impact of global fertilizer demand, which has constrained local supply and triggered a surge in prices, as highlighted by Senator Villar, chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee.

The Philippines faced a setback when super typhoon Ondoy wiped out the sole fertilizer producer in Leyte.

To address this vulnerability, Senator Villar has allocated annual budgets for the procurement of composting facilities, distributed across the country by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

During the turnover and launch of three composting facilities in Brgy. Zapote 5, Bacoor City, Cavite on Saturday, November 25, Senator Villar emphasized the dual benefits of the composting facilities.

Apart from substantial savings by reducing reliance on costly imports, these facilities play a crucial role in managing waste disposal.

"A composting facility turns bio-degradable wastes like kitchen scraps into organic fertilizer, producing one ton per month," explained Villar.

Villar, who has provided her home city Las Piñas with 89 composting facilities, highlighted the positive impact on local governance.

These facilities have significantly cut down the local government's expenses on waste disposal, leading to an annual saving of P300 million.