PH’S STOCKS OF RICE ENOUGH – DA

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the country has sufficient rice supply despite the impact of severe tropical storm Kristine.

“We have enough stocks, sir,” Laurel informed President Marcos during a situation briefing at Malacañan Palace on Friday.

Laurel made the remarks in response to President Marcos’ inquiries about the impact of Kristine on the country’s agriculture sector.

He assured President Marcos that the DA was able to harvest around 60 to 70 percent of the rice crops more than a week before the storm hit.

The DA also accelerated the harvesting and procurement of crops through the National Food Authority (NFA), which is providing significant assistance to the storm’s victims, he said.

“Then we have Kadiwa trucks also in Camsur (Camarines Sur), we also have NFA rice ordered by the LGUs being deployed as we speak. And to prepare of what is coming, we also instructed NFA to send additional rice above and beyond what was requested,” he added.

President Marcos requested the DA chief to keep him updated on the status of the country’s agricultural sector.