DA assures sufficient food supply for consumers in areas under ECQ

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday assured that the country has sufficient food supply this year across all commodities from rice, vegetable, fish, pork and chicken.

For rice, Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, during a virtual presser, said the agency expects the country to have an ending stock of 2.6 million metric tons enough to last for 75 days, which is until mid-march.

Cayanan also said that the country has ending stocks of 78,048 metric tons of pork and 58,437 MT of chicken that will last for 18 days and 14 days, respectively.

He added the fish and vegetables have ending stocks that will both last up to 8 days.

“We learned a lot from our experience last year, so now we have enough basic commodities, including rice, pork, vegetables, fish, and chicken and eggs,” he said.

With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining four provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna until April 11, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, meanwhile, assured that farming and fishing operations will continue, including related activities throughout the food value chain to ensure the continuous supply of adequate and affordable basic food commodities to residents in the “NCR plus bubble.”

“We reiterate our appeal to the members of the PNP and respective local government units [LGUS] to allow the unhampered movement of farmers, fishers, food entrepreneurs, and food transport vehicles and personnel—who are also essential workers—so as not to unnecessarily disrupt the flow of food from the farms and fishing grounds to the markets and our dining tables,” said Dar in a news statement.

Dar also said DA regional directors were instructed to ensure the continuous delivery of surplus farm and fishery products to the NCR plus bubble, through farmers’ cooperatives and associations, and through Kadiwa outlets in partnerships with local governments in Metro Manila and the private sector.