Manila, April 1 -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has assured that fertilizer supply in the country remains stable despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, as the agency ramps up the use of alternative sources to cushion the impact of rising global prices.

In a news release Wednesday, Tiu Laurel said the country's exposure to supply disruptions is limited but noted that higher oil and freight costs are expected to drive up fertilizer prices following tensions affecting key trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

"I reviewed all the figures on where our fertilizer comes from... supply is not the issue -it's really the price," he said.

He added that to cushion the impact, the DA is now priorit...