Food supply stable until July – agriculture chief

MANILA, Philippines, April 3 ------ The country’s food supply is sufficient until July, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

Tiu Laurel assured the public that the country’s adequate inventories and ongoing harvests are cushioning the impact of global volatility. “Definitely, there is no issue with supply. I can safely say that through June, even July, there is no issue with the supply of almost everything,” Tiu Laurel said.

He said the National Food Authority has 400,000 metric tons of rice stock. Tiu Laurel added that the supply will be strengthened further as the peak harvest season and imports arrive. Other food categories, such as vegetables, also remain stable. “Cold storage facilities are stocked with imported pork while the local swine population continues to increase,” Tiu Laurel said. “Corn, sugar and onions are likewise in season, contributing to overall supply buffers.”

The DA is monitoring market prices as global developments may impact freight and transport costs. For rice, the country’s staple, the department is keeping prices in check while studying possible caps on imported rice. Tiu Laurel said the DA is directing Food Terminal Inc. and Planters Products Inc. to offer more affordable alternatives to consumers.

The P20 rice program for target beneficiaries will also continue until the end of President Marcos’ term in 2028. “For now, supply remains steady, with the government focused on ensuring availability while limiting price pressures,” Tiu Laurel said.

Source: philstar.com