Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 30) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines has “to start importing” rice to prepare for the impacts of El Niño and Typhoon Egay on local harvest.
In a situation briefing with government officials in Tuguegarao City on Saturday, Marcos said he is worried about the local rice supply following reports on agriculture damage caused by Egay.
He also stressed that the country should boost its rice stocks to ensure that it is prepared for the impact of El Niño on agriculture, and that he may seek a supply deal with India.
\”I think about the national supply of rice because ini-import lahat ng Indonesia, nagsara ang Vietnam…India nagsara. Pero I think I can make a deal with India, baka meron tayo mapakiusapan do’n, but we have to start importing already. Vietnam says nailabas na raw lahat ng kanilang ilalabas. Thailand puwede pa,\” said Marcos, who is also the agriculture secretary.
“Everybody is preparing for El Niño, lahat ng Southeast Asia, sabay-sabay nagbibilihan. Ninenerbyos ako tataas na naman ang presyo kahit mag-import tayo,” he added.
[Translation: I think about the national supply of rice because Indonesia is importing, Vietnam has closed, and India has closed. But I think I can make a deal with India… But we have to start importing already. Vietnam says they’ve exported everything they could, so we can turn to Thailand. Everybody’s preparing for El Niño, all of Southeast Asia. Everyone is buying at the same time, that’s why I’m nervous that the prices will be high even if we import.]
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Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said agriculture damage caused by Egay in his province has so far reached over ₱539 million, of which ₱327 million were recorded in corn production, ₱123 million in high-value crops, ₱41 million in rice, ₱47 million in fisheries, ₱1.05 million in livestock.
Damage to infrastructure in Cagayan is at ₱862.3 million, he added.
According to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the initial estimate of damage to agriculture was at ₱1.5 billion, and the livelihoods of more than 100,000 farmers and fisherfolk were disrupted.
Production loss was at 130,776.58 metric tons, and at least 130,440.2 hectares of crop area were affected by Egay.
Marcos told local government units affected by the typhoon to submit detailed reports on agriculture damage and the needs of farmers.
