Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has urged the government to impose an "urgent price freeze" on agricultural products in areas severely affected by typhoon Egay.
Dingras, Ilocos Norte (Photo courtesy of Domenic Daoang and Ryan Paul Bagalayos)
"Retail prices of rice, vegetables, poultry and fish and other food produce are expected to increase anew after supertyphoon Egay (international name Doksuri) pummelled farmlands and coastal areas particularly in Central and Northern Luzon regions," said KMP on Friday, July 28
The group also requested immediate aid for farmers, fishers, and residents devastated by the typhoon.
Meanwhile, KMP Secretary-General Ronnie Manalo lamented how President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is "somewhere else" "every time a calamity hits the country."
"It is rather unfortunate that every time a calamity hits the country, the President is somewhere else, most of the time, out of the country enticing businesses to invest in the Philippines," he said.
"Hindi sapat na nakamonitor lang sa sitwasyon ang Pangulo, dapat nandito siya kapag kailangan siya ng ating mga kababayan (It is not enough that the President just monitors the situation, he should be here when our countrymen need him)," Manalo added.
As per the 3 p.m. bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, the production loss due to Egay has climbed to P512.9 million from P62 million.
This amount is equivalent to a production loss of 19,488 metric tons.
The DA added that a total of 58,104 hectares of agricultural land and 51,926 farmers were affected by the typhoon.
"The increase is due to the updated reports from Ilocos Region and MIMAROPA, and additional reports from Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas," the agency explained.
READ: All wind signals lifted as ‘Egay’ moves farther away from PH