Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he sees no looming rice crisis in the country despite concerns raised by some farmer groups.
“No. I don’t,” Marcos told reporters when asked about a possible deficiency of the commodity in the next few months.
“There is a chance na ninipis talaga ‘yung supply (There is a chance for supply to dwindle). So we are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season,” he added.
Concerns on a potential rice shortage were floated in the past weeks amid the threat of the El Niño phenomenon.
The Department of Agriculture has said supply remains stable. A surge in stocks is also expected following the March and April harvests, it added.
Marcos, however, said the government won’t be closing its doors on the product’s importation.
“We may have to import. We’re keeping that option open,” the chief executive noted.
“Basta’t swertehin tayo nang kaunti, ‘di naman tayong masyadong mag-Odette ulit o isang malaking problema… Basta all things remaining equal, we have enough supply, and that we’ll be able to keep the prices stable.”
[Translation: As long as we get lucky, we don’t get another Typhoon Odette or another problem. As long all things remain equal, we have enough supply, and that we’ll be able to keep the prices stable.]
Last week, the National Food Authority proposed to import 330,000 metric tons of rice to make up for the foreseen deficit in the country’s buffer stock.
