MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured that Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) will not curb rice supply in the Philippines, although the weather disturbance may affect corn harvests.
“We’re not too worried about rice since the harvest is almost complete in major producing provinces and most of the affected regions are not major producing areas,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.
But the DA warned that corn production might sustain “significant losses.”
Tiu Laurel said the National Food Authority (NFA) had sufficient rice stocks to cover the country’s requirements. Even then, he said the agency would closely monitor the situation.
“But we may have an issue with corn because about 33,000 hectares of cornfields were affected by Tino,” he added.
Current buffer
The country’s rice stocks totaled 2.35 million metric tons as of Oct. 1, up 3.2 percent from the same month last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
The commercial sector accounted for 40.5 percent of last month’s rice inventory.
Corn stocks reached 846,810 MT, a 16.3 percent increase from a year ago. The commercial sector contributed 78.1
Tiu Laurel has instructed all regional field offices to conduct rapid damage assessments and prepare for a potentially stronger typhoon that could hit Northern Luzon over the weekend.
Losses expected
The DA has yet to estimate losses arising from Typhoon Tino.
However, the agency said, “damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validations are ongoing.”
Nonetheless, the DA has readied P255 million worth of farm inputs for distribution to affected farmers and fishers. These include rice, corn and vegetable seeds, fingerlings and biologics.
It is prepared to assist fishers in repairing fishing gears and boats, and provide fuel assistance.
Crop protection
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will expedite the processing of farmers’ claims affected by the typhoon.
To help local producers rebuild their plantations, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council is prepared to offer up to P25,000 in loans through its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program.
The NFA, for its part, has set aside 2.6 million bags of rice for distribution to local government units and relief agencies.
Meanwhile, the DA will sell rice at P20 per kilogram through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets. /dda
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