The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured Filipinos that the country's rice supply remains sufficient despite the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine which ravaged different parts of the Philippines this week.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this during a situation briefing headed by President Marcos in Malacañan on Friday morning, Oct. 25.

During the briefing, Marcos asked Laurel about the impact of the storm on the country's agriculture sector, to which the latter responded in the affirmative.

"We have enough stocks, sir," Laurel said.

He assured the President that the DA was able to harvest around 60 to 70 percent of the rice crops more than a week before the storm hit.

He added that the DA also accelerated the harvesting and procurement of crops through the National Food Authority (NFA), which is providing significant assistance to the storm’s victims.

"Then we have Kadiwa trucks also in CamSur (Camarines Sur), we also have NFA rice ordered by the LGUs being deployed as we speak," Laurel said.

"And to prepare for what is coming, we also instructed NFA to send additional rice above and beyond what was requested," he added.

President Marcos requested the DA chief to keep him updated on the status of the country’s agricultural sector.

According to the DA on Friday, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine caused over P80 million in damages and losses in the agriculture sector in Luzon and the Visayas. Citing assessments from its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) it said the damage to rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock stands at P80.80 million.

The typhoon has so far affected 2,864 farmers and ravaged 1,570 hectares of agricultural areas while the total volume of production loss was at 5,287 metric tons (MT).