BBM assures adequate food supply despite typhoons

Despite the widespread destruction caused by recent typhoons to the agricultural sector, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured on Friday that the country has sufficient food supply to address the needs of its citizens.

“In terms of food security, we’re alright. But marami talagang nasisira. Nasira na… ang dami ng nasira na palayan, ang dami na nasira na tanim. We will just have to compensate for that,” the President stated.

President Marcos made the assurance when asked about the government’s stance on food security following the successive typhoons that wreaked havoc on the country’s agriculture. 

He emphasized that while significant damage has been incurred, measures are in place to ensure stability in food production and supply chains.

The President noted that food production remained high, even during the challenges posed by the El Niño phenomenon earlier this year. 

“We have been able to maintain production levels despite adversities, and we will continue to find ways to recover and adapt,” he said.

When questioned about the potential impact of typhoon damage on the government’s rice importation plans, President Marcos revealed that the Department of Agriculture (DA) had projected the possibility of importing up to 4.5 million tons of rice.

“The upper estimate is 4.5 million tons, but we have already seen significant reductions in the prices of imported rice compared to last year. Unlike during the El Niño period, when ASEAN countries were also affected and the prices surged due to competition, we are not facing the same scenario now,” he explained.

The President added that the government is committed to stabilizing food prices, particularly for products affected by the typhoons. 

“Of course, we’ll do everything to control the price of food, especially those products that have been damaged or destroyed by Pepito,” he emphasized.

Based on the latest reports, the consecutive typhoons caused approximately P7.039 billion in agricultural damages and losses across multiple regions, including Regions I, II, CAR, III, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, V, VI, VIII, and XII. 

Despite these challenges, President Marcos reiterated his administration’s determination to bolster recovery efforts and maintain food security nationwide.