By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is looking at the option of importing rice to beef up the country’s supply in the event of natural calamities, such as typhoons and the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Mr. Marcos, however, assured Filipinos that the country has ample supply of the staple grain to keep the prices stable in the market.
He also dismissed the possibility of a repeat of the rice crisis in 2018, following the statement of the Federation of Free Farmers that there could be a deficiency on the staple grain during the lean months like what happened five years ago.
“So, we are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season before the harvest, for the upcoming harvest and what will be…” Marcos said in a media interview during an event in San Jose del Monte City.
“So that’s what we are looking at. We may have to import. So that’s — we’re keeping that option open,” he added.
The President said the buffer stock of the National Food Authority (NFA) had been depleted due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, which hampered the operations of most of the industries.
“Usually, the buffer stock is nine days. Presently, the buffer stock is just one and a half day. If a storm comes, after two, three days, we could no longer provide.”
Mr. Marcos earlier said the government was trying to make sure that the NFA would be able to build up its buffer stock without causing the rice prices to rise during harvest season, considering that the NFA is only allowed to buy from local farmers.
The NFA earlier proposed to import over 330,000 metric tons of rice to replenish the country’s buffer stock of the staple in anticipation of calamities.
But the Department of Agriculture said the NFA proposal was dropped.
Under the Department of Agriculture’s 2023 supply outlook, the country’s total supply is at 16.98 million metric tons (MMT), which is sufficient to cover this year’s demand estimated at 15.29 MMT.
“This would leave the country with an ending balance of 1.69 MMT, which is equivalent to 45 days of buffer stock, instead of the 90-day ideal buffer stock to stabilize the price of rice,” a DA briefer said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos launched another outlet of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan to provide affordable agri-fishery commodities to consumers and a ready market for farmers and fisherfolk.
The President is envisioning the program as a platform to bring affordable food items to the grassroot level to manage food inflation, as well as provide more income opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“We are trying our best to open more Kadiwa stores so that it could reach even the farthest areas and every Filipino could at least experience a bit of relief as the prices of basic goods go down,” he said.
The President also awarded interventions amounting to P15.793 million for several farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Bulacan province.
The Dulong Bayan Farmers Association based in San Jose Del Monte City received P5 million from the Department of Agriculture National Rice Program for the construction of warehouse with mechanical grain dryer.
It also received P5.5 million from the DA-National Livestock Program for the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) implementation.
On the other hand, the Biyaya ng Matangtubig Irrigators Association, Inc. of Baliuag town, the Sta. Catalina Matanda Bata Irrigators Association of San Ildefonso, and the Magmarale Farmers Field School Marketing Cooperative of San Miguel each received P1.764 million worth of rice combine harvester from the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
Mr. Marcos said there would be no problem when it comes to supply after the harvest season.
“If we already harvest, there would be no problem with the supply. It’s precisely as you mentioned. It is in the dry part where we are waiting for the last planting to be harvested,” he told reporters.
Mr. Marcos vowed to give muscle to the government initiative in providing the Filipino consumers with affordable products by putting up more Kadiwa stores nationwide.
In his visit to Bulacan, the President assured the Filipino people of continuous supply of products sold at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets.
“We assure you there would be a steady supply of goods. We should not worry about the supply. Mr. Marcos said during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launching in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
The President said his administration relaunched the Kadiwa, first initiated by his father in the 1970s, to cushion the effects of the rising prices of different products and aid small businesses in regaining their footing following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Marcos also said the government will provide assistance to MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), which account for the majority of businesses in the country and create jobs.
The President likewise expressed gratitude to all the participants as well as the Bulacan local government, stressing the national government can’t do it alone.
“Because the Department of Agriculture cannot do it alone, even the national government cannot accomplish it without the partnership of our local government,” the President said.
Kadiwa is a market linkage facilitation program of the Department of Agriculture that aims at making products such as rice, fish, poultry and livestock, fruits and vegetables, and other basic commodities accessible, available and affordable to the poor.
The program also seeks to establish an additional market for small farmers and fisherfolk to sell their products and increase their income and ensure a stable price and supply of food and other basic commodities within poor areas.
To date, Kadiwa total sales has reached to more than P415 million, benefiting farmers, fisherfolk and other businesses, according to the government.
It said the program had so far benefitted more than 1 million families and 26,000 farmers and fishermen
In related developments, the President noted the government was also finding ways to extend assistance to Filipinos still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those reeling from rising inflation.