The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public that the country’s rice supply and prices remain stable, successfully navigating challenges posed by a recent importation ban and the impact of tropical cyclones.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa confirmed the positive outlook, stating that the domestic supply chain has shown resilience.
“Even if we had an import ban, the supply of rice is good. And even if we got hit by tropical cyclones, we expect that the harvest has been good as well until the end of the year,” De Mesa said in a televised interview.
The official also expressed optimism that the current year’s total rice harvest may surpass the 2023 record of 20.06 million metric tons.
“There is a possibility that we will surpass the 2023 record harvest. But of course, we have to wait for the official data,” he noted, while contrasting the current situation with the intense weather patterns of the preceding year, which included a severe El Niño and a strong La Niña with numerous cyclones.
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