An official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured that the Philippines has a 39-day buffer supply of rice amid the threats of the El Niño phenomenon and the challenges of importing rice from neighboring countries, while it looks to increase the rice production in the country. (Keith Bacongco/File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla gave the assurance during a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 1, after a sectoral meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the concurrent agriculture secretary. “And I think, you know, we are prepared; the production for up to the second quarter, we have something like 39 days of stocks and then will continue, you know, the DA has already prepositioned ways by which we could really increase production,” she said. The official explained that the “biggest rice production” would be by the end of September or October, so that would beef up the country’s supply of rice, in addition to the supply from imports. However, Sombilla also admitted that the Chief Executive has expressed concern about the country’s rice supply amid the threats presented by the El Niño phenomenon, as well as the withdrawal of Russia from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and India’s ban on non-basmati white rice exports. “So I think, you know, as of today, we are looking at, you know, sound pa rin naman iyong supply and demand natin (our supply and demand is still sound), you know, as of today,” she said. “But again, as the President is very much worried, we really have to discuss ways by which we could really mitigate, you know, further effect of these events that are now unfolding,” the official admitted. She underscored the DA’s need to “coordinate very closely” with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the timing of rice planting. Sombilla also said that there is regional coordination for a better and effective response to the El Niño phenomenon, which would last until early 2024. But asked about the rising prices of rice despite the buffer, Sombilla explained that it was caused by the prices of fuel and fertilizers, with farm gate prices now between P19 and P21 instead of the usual P16 to P17. The official also cited “speculations” from the traders about an increase in exports that further drive the domestic retail prices. “But, you know, iyong inflation, iyong contribution ng rice sa inflation (the inflation, the contribution of rice to inflation) is still within, you know, the range,” Sombilla assured. She added that this is what the DA is monitoring, which further highlights the importance of putting in place “the right interventions at the right time.”