MANILA, Philippines – TINIYAK ng Department of Agriculture (DA) nitong Miyerkules na may sapat na suplay ng bigas ang bansa na mahigit 7 milyong metriko tonelada.
Ayon kay DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian na “maganda” ang ani sa panahon ng tagtuyot, na may kabuuang ani na 5.7 milyong metriko tonelada.
Samantala, nasa 1.9 million metric tons ang supply ng bansa ng imported rice.
“Our rice supply is more than enough for our needs for the next few months,” ayon sa DA official sa isang briefing na Laging Handa.
“We are at the peak of planting, we expect that this month there will be harvests, and in September there will be many harvests. We have a sufficient supply of rice,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa kabilang banda, ipinaliwanag ni Sebastian na ang buffer stock ng bigas ng National Food Authority (NFA), ay iba sa stock ng bigas para sa buong bansa.
“Before the government get its (rice) supply from the NFA but now, the latter only maintains a small number since their supply is only for emergency,” aniya.
“The private sector is now allowed to import rice,” dagdag pa ng undersecretary. Kasabay nito sinabi ni Sebatian urged farmers who were affected by Typhoon Egay to seek assistance from the DA, as they are ready to supply them with seedlings
Samantala hinimok din niya ang mga ito na i-maximize ang produksyon ng pagkain sa panahong ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng mga gulay. Santi Celario
