Marcos warns PH soil ‘under threat’

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called for increased collaboration among various stakeholders to avert future crises, recognizing the threat posed by soil neglect to national food security and people’s livelihood and well-being.

Among the growing soil problems in the country are degradation, acidification, and pollution, the President said.

“[About 75 percent of] total crop land is vulnerable to erosion in various degrees, with ag- riculture losing about 457 million tons of soil annually,” the President said as he addressed the 1st National Soil Health Summit at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

“The conversion of lands for settlements and the loss of about 47 hectares of forest cover every year contribute significantly to the soil degradation,” the President added.

Mr. Marcos said around 11 million to 13 million hectares are considered degraded.

This is on top of the 2.2 million hectares that suffer from insufficient levels of soil fertility,