MANILA MAYOR and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso vowed to make sure the cost of fertilizer will be properly monitored if he wins in May.

“I will see to it, and I will make sure, with all the powers given to a president of a country, that the price of fertilizers will be properly monitored,” he told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino on Thursday as he campaigned in La Union province.

“That’s why you will notice that there are many farmers who are unable to plant their crops. Their unhusked rice is bought at a cheap price, but their fertilizer is expensive. So, it seems the price of the fertilizers has really affected them,” Mr. Domagoso said. 

As global fertilizer prices have been on the rise, the average retail price of urea in the Philippines has increased to about P2,500 per 50 kilograms in Feb. 7-11 from P2,400 in Dec. 27-31, 2021, according to data from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA). 

Mr. Domagoso also said that importation of agricultural products should be minimized to protect local farmers.

“Importation should be the buffer, not the main (supply source),” the Manila mayor said at a live-streamed press conference. 

TULFO
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has junked a case seeking to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) of senatorial bet Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo. 

In a 10-page resolution promulgated in Dec. 2021 and released on Thursday, the previous Comelec Second Division said Mr. Tulfo did not mislead the public when he declared in his CoC that he is married to Jocelyn P. Tulfo. 

The petition was filed by Julieta L. Pearson, who claims to be Mr. Tulfo’s legal wife. 

“Respondent’s civil status is not a material matter for the simple reason that it does not pertain to his qualification for elective office, this would still not be  

enough to warrant the cancellation of his CoC,” states the ruling penned by Former Second Division Presiding Commissioner Socorro B. Inting.

Mr. Tulfo topped a Pulse Asia Research survey conducted last month on voter preferences for senators, garnering the support of 66.1% of respondents. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan and John Victor D. Ordonez

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