President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the government is keeping an eye on the country’s rice supply to stabilize its price as he looked forward to the start of the harvest in major rice-producing provinces.
In a video message, Mr. Marcos, who is also the concurrent chief of the Agriculture Department, said the government is closely watching the production of palay (unhusked rice).
“We are closely monitoring the rice supply and its prices after we
received news that harvesting has started in Nueva Ecija, Isabela, and North Cotabato,” President Marcos said.
He stressed that the government will keep tabs on the rice prices and vowed that it will stabilize once there is enough rice supply and reserve.
“We will watch it closely to ensure that it will happen,” he said.
In a previous statement, the President reassured the country that despite the threat of El Niño and typhoons, local rice supply is still enough.
“The rice situation is manageable and stable. There is enough rice for the Philippines up to and after El Niño next year,” Mr. Marcos said.
Leo Sebastian, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for riceindustry development, said the initial harvest from the three provinces would help stabilize the country’s supply.
Sebastian said farmers from these provinces were able to plant early in May or earlier than other rice-producing areas.
Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato are able to produce an estimated 900,000 metric tons of rice during its start.
“Palay harvest will peak in late September to October, contributing largely to the country’s second semester (July to December) production, estimated at more than 11 million metric tons (MMT),” he said.
