MANILA – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has filed criminal charges against a fertilizer company and its president over alleged violations of the country’s fertilizer regulatory law in connection with a Department of Agriculture procurement project in Caraga.

The complaint, filed before the Butuan City Prosecutor’s Office, named DO’s Asia Chemical Trading Corp. and its president, Viflor M. Dosado, as respondents.

The FPA accused the respondents of violating Sections 8(a), 8(g), and 9, in relation to Section 10, of Presidential Decree No. 1144, which regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale, and registration of fertilizers and pesticides.

The case stemmed from DO’s Asia’s participation in a P25.67-million DA procurement for inorganic fertilizers intended for farmers in Surigao del Norte.

According to the FPA, the company allegedly conducted regulated fertilizer activities in Caraga without the required authority, used a prohibited production method, and supplied a fertilizer product registered under another company without securing the necessary authorization.

FPA Executive Director Glenn D.C. Estrada said DO’s Asia allegedly lacked authority to conduct fertilizer dealership activities in Caraga despite holding licenses to operate in Region XI.

The agency also alleged that the company used the “Spinning Palanggana” method, a manual fertilizer mixing process prohibited under FPA Memorandum Circular No. 23, Series of 2022, because it does not consistently ensure product quality and uniformity.

The FPA said laboratory tests on fertilizer samples identified as “Carlly Grow 14-14-14” showed nutrient levels significantly below the guaranteed analysis indicated on the product label.

Investigators also alleged that DO’s Asia offered and supplied a fertilizer product registered under another manufacturer’s name without obtaining the required Third-Party Authorization from the FPA.

The complaint traced the case to a 2025 procurement conducted by the DA Regional Field Office XIII involving more than P182 million worth of inorganic fertilizers. DO’s Asia was reportedly the lone bidder for a P25.67-million lot intended for farmers in Surigao del Norte.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the filing demonstrates the government’s determination to protect farmers and ensure that public funds intended for agricultural programs are not undermined by regulatory violations.

“There is no place in Philippine agriculture for those who profit by selling questionable fertilizer products. Every violation hurts farmers, threatens food security, and erodes public trust in government programs. We will use the full force of the law against anyone who undermines the integrity of our agricultural input system,” Tiu Laurel said.

“Enforcing these regulations is not simply about compliance. It is about protecting our farmers, safeguarding public health, and ensuring that every peso the government spends on agricultural support delivers real value in the field,” he added.

Estrada said the FPA would continue pursuing entities that circumvent fertilizer regulations.

“FPA will vigorously enforce the law against entities that circumvent our regulatory safeguards. Our mandate is to protect Filipino farmers, preserve the integrity of government agricultural programs, and ensure that only compliant, quality fertilizer products reach the market,” he said.

The case is now undergoing preliminary investigation before the Butuan City Prosecutor’s Office.