Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that the government will not import rice as long as there is enough supply of the food staple.
In a vlog on Saturday, Marcos, who is also the agriculture secretary, said he is looking at \”friends\” that could export rice to the Philippines as the demand for the food staple continues to rise all over the world amid the looming impact of El Niño on agriculture.
\”Gagawin lang natin ito kung hindi sapat ang supply kaya’t dapat asahan ng ating mga magsasaka na hindi tayo mag-i-import kung sapat ang supply dito sa Pilipinas,\” he said.
\”Huwag sana kayo mabahala, meron tayong bigas. Ang binabantayan lang talaga natin ang presyo dito sa Pilipinas at ang presyo sa buong mundo,\” he added.
[Translation: We will only do this if supply is insufficient, that’s why our farmers should expect that we will not import rice if the supply is enough in the Philippines. Don’t be bothered, we have rice. We are just monitoring the prices here in the country and in other parts of the world.]
Last month, Marcos said the Philippines has \”to start importing\” rice to prepare for the impacts of El Niño and Typhoon Egay on local harvest. The president said he was worried about the local rice supply following reports on agriculture damage caused by Egay. He also said the Philippines may seek a supply deal with India.
READ: PH seeks rice importation to prepare for impacts of El Niño, ‘Egay’ on harvest
In a Palace briefing last Aug. 1, Agriculture Undersecretary Mercy Sombilla said the Department of Agriculture will import 1.3 million metric tons of rice, but it has yet to set a timetable.
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