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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos eyes deal with India amid looming rice shortage

Marcos eyes deal with India amid looming rice shortage

Published Jul 29, 2023 08:34 am
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he is looking to strike a rice importation deal with India in fear of a rice shortage after the agriculture sector took a toll from Super Typhoon Egay.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot)*

Marcos said this as he presided over the situation briefing on the effects of Super Typhoon Egay in Cagayan Valley on Saturday afternoon, July 29. In his remarks, the President was alarmed by Egay's damage to the agriculture sector. Data from the Provincial Government of Cagayan showed that the estimated cost of damage in the agriculture sector was P539,442,500.93 as of July 28. According to Marcos, who heads the Department of Agriculture (DA), the country would be left with no choice but to import rice anew, which would not stop the price of the said commodity from increasing. "Ninenerbyos ako tataas na naman ang presyo kahit mag-import tayo (I'm worried that the price would increase even if we import). That's the problem that I see," he said. President Marcos said he would talk to the Indian government to see if it could provide the Philippines with rice since other countries like Vietnam are no longer exporting it. "Ini-import lahat ng Indonesia, nagsara ang Vietnam, maghahanap na naman tayo ng bago (Indonesia is importing everything then Vietnam closed down. We have to look for new ones)," he said. "India nagsara (India closed down)— [but] I think I can make a deal with India. Baka meron tayong mapakaiusapan doon (Perhaps we can talk to someone there). But we have to start importing already," he added. Data from the Provincial Government of Cagayan showed the following estimated cost of damage to the province's agriculture sector as of 3 p.m. on July 28, 2023: * Rice: P41,713,106.77 * Corn: P327,241,696.49 * High-value commercial crops: P123,272,550.00 * Fishery: P47,215,147.67
Region II is one of the regions in Northern Luzon that was severely affected by Super Typhoon Egay. It displaced more than 14,000 individuals from 250 barangays in four provinces within the region. Meanwhile, during the situation briefing on the effects of Super Typhoon Egay in Abra n Saturday, President Marcos said the government would focus on ensuring sufficient rice supply. He noted the government has to find rice suppliers so that National Food Authority (NFA) can provide all the emergency support. Since Benguet's vegetable farms were affected by the typhoon, the President also said local vegetable supply would be reviewed to determine remedial measures to stabilize prices.

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Bongbong Marcos PH-India Cagayan Valley Super Typhoon Egay rice supply President Marcos
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