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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider As Philippines grapples with El Niño, Romualdez cites this country's help in ensuring local rice supply 

As Philippines grapples with El Niño, Romualdez cites this country's help in ensuring local rice supply 

Published Mar 4, 2024 07:18 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez views Cambodia as a key partner of the Philippines in cushioning the blow of the El Niño phenomenon to its rice production.
  • The House leader had this to say following the bilateral meeting between President Marcos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the 50th ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. 

aboodi-vesakaran-3H3C9gr4-bU-unsplash.jpgFlag of Cambodia (Unsplash)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez views Cambodia as a key partner of the Philippines in cushioning the blow of the El Niño phenomenon to its rice production. 

“Cambodia has long been recognized for its expertise in rice cultivation and production, and its willingness to support the Philippines in addressing its rice supply concerns is deeply appreciated,” Romualdez said in a statement Monday, March 4. 

The House leader had this to say following the bilateral meeting between President Marcos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the 50th ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne. 

Romualdez was among the officials who accompanied Marcos to the event. 

Linking up with Cambodia would help ensure that the country has ample rice supply amid the threat of the El Niño phenomenon, the Speaker said. 

“By diversifying our sources of rice importation and strengthening partnerships with fellow ASEAN member states like Cambodia, we can mitigate the adverse effects of external factors such as climate change-induced phenomena like El Niño,” Romualdez said. 

“While we are making significant strides towards achieving rice self-sufficiency, prudence dictates that we should provide contingency measures to ensure people would have adequate rice supply at the best possible price if our local production falls short of expectation,” he noted. 

The Speaker noted that while the Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured enough supply of the staple grain up to the first half of the year, prices may remain high through September due to the potential effects of El Nino and an expected spike in demand. 

 

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/4/guanzon-skips-rice-says-its-expensive-1

 

As of Feb. 29, the damage to the country’s agriculture sector due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon has increased to over P941 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). 

Among the areas that sustained the most agricultural damage due to El Niño are Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Ilocos, Calabarzon, and Zamboanga. 

“Moving forward, we fully support President Marcos Jr.’s initiative to work closely with Cambodia and other ASEAN allies to ensure a stable and resilient food supply chain,” added Romualdez. 

ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

 

Related Tags

cambodia Martin Romualdez rice supply El Niño
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