Malacañang assured the people on Sunday that the government has been taking steps to stabilize the food-supply situation through assistance to farmers and fishermen affected by the recent typhoons.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte voiced this in an interview over the government radio dzRB, to allay fears of an impending food crisis because of the floods in Thailand and Vietnam, both rice exporters.
Valte said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was “aware of the situation” and has pursued measures to improve the food supply, especially after the damage to agricultural crops in the aftermath of typhoons Pedring and Quiel.
She said the Department of Agriculture is releasing P331 million for affected farmers and fishermen in Central Luzon, with P200 million in the form of rice-seeds subsidy.
Alcala has also reported to Malacañang that affected fishermen would be provided with fingerlings, and farmers with farm equipment.
“An additional P20 million worth of farm equipment and implements was given by the government to farmers and municipal governments in 35 affected towns in Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan,” Valte said.
The equipment include harvesters, mechanical and solar dryers, hand tractors with trailers and solar dryers.
“We are aware of the need for stability in our food supply, and we are exerting all the efforts to make sure that even with these typhoons, we can provide support and assistance to our farmers,” she said.
Rice exports from Thailand, the biggest shipper of the grain, will probably be delayed by the floods that have affected 60 out of 77 provinces and damaged at least 1.6 million hectares of standing crops, the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization said in a report late last week. Overall food security is “satisfactory” while flood-affected areas face a “major challenge,” the UN said.
Valte also said President Aquino will remain in Metro Manila this long weekend through All Saints’ Day to catch up on official readings and paper work.
Valte said Mr. Aquino will take advantage of the long break to rest a bit, pore over his briefing papers and reduce the pile of documents on his desk.0
Valte also said the number- coding system will be lifted on November 2, even if it was not declared as a holiday, to facilitate the return of those who would have gone to the provinces to observe All Saints’ Day.
Mr. Aquino will pay his respects to his late parents—President Corazon Aquino and Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr.—at the Manila Memorial Park on Monday.
(With Bloomberg News)
