The number of El Niño-hit provinces dropped from 50 to 41, the state weather bureau said as the Department of Agriculture assured Filipinos the country will have a sufficient supply of agricultural and basic commodities to last in coming months.
The US Department of Agriculture earlier said the Philippines may import as much as 3.9 million metric tons of rice this year with the dry spell starting to affect farms even as the government said damages are within expectations and not as large-scale as predicted.
“First off, a bit of good news. In the initial or the last report from PAGASA, some 50 provinces were affected. Now, it’s been reduced to just 41,” said El Niño Task Force spokesperson Joey Villarama.
Among these 41 provinces, Villarama said 17 are grappling with dry conditions, while 10 are enduring a dry spell, and 14 have drought.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, for his part, reported to the President that all crops commodities, especially for rice and corn, pork and chicken, were very stable, DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro said.
“There will be no problem in the coming months. So, we don’t need to worry,” he said in a Palace briefing.
According to the DA’s Rice Supply and Demand Outlook for 2024, the projected rice availability will remain steady until year-end, boasting an annual surplus averaging 3.7 million metric tons or 99 days’ worth of buffer stock.
On the other hand, the corn supply is expected to be stable until this year’s fourth quarter with an annual buffer of 42 days, while the pork supply is poised to remain steady with an annual surplus of 54 days.
Meanwhile, chicken and egg supply would remain abundant, ensuring a stockpile that can last for 181 days and 184 days, respectively.
Navarro underscored the need to ensure an adequate supply of rice to prevent a sharp increase in prices.
“It’s better to have rice at P56 rather than no rice at P42,” he said.
And despite a reduction in the water elevation of Angat Dam in Bulacan, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System on Tuesday assured consumers of its two water concessionaires of sufficient potable water supply amid the El Niño phenomenon.
Patrick James Dizon, MWSS division manager, said the agency holds regular meetings with Manila Water Co. Inc and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to come up with augmentation measures to prevent a possible water shortage.
“We were able to save enough water at Angat Dam last November and December. Supposedly, the normal level at that time should be 212 meters but we managed to increase the elevation to 214 meters,” he said.
“Normally, water level dips at an average of 30 cubic meter per day. But because of our augmentation measures, the level is decreasing at an average of 17 cm per day,” he added.
Angat Dam provides 90 percent of Metro Manila’s domestic water requirements.