STOCKING UP | As rice prices spike, a man is seen loaded with sacks of rice on a motorcycle along Dagupan Street in Manila. (Photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The government estimates that rice farmers will harvest up to 5 million metric tons (MT) of palay until October and stabilize prices, Malaca帽ang said on Sunday citing Department of Agriculture (DA) projections.
Quoting a report by Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leo Sebastian, the Palace said that the palay harvest in September is expected to reach 2 million MT with another 3 million MT coming in October for a total of 5 million MT. The estimates were based on satellite data of the Philippine Rice Information System, as of Aug. 14, Sebastian said.
鈥淔or the second semester, or July to December, we estimate to produce more than 11 million MT, and barring strong typhoons鈥� we hope to hit the 20-million MT level for 2023,鈥� he added.
He said the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (Prism) reported that the bulk of the 2.3-million MT harvest in September would come from 12 provinces.
Other farmers from 15 provinces would harvest the 2.9 million MT by the end of October.
Masagana rice program
Come the dry season next year, Sebastian said the DA would continue its Masagana Rice Industry Development Program and provide clustered rice farmers with high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, biofertilizers, soil ameliorants, farm machinery, and extension, financial, and marketing support.
He said the government would initially focus on fully irrigated clusters totaling at least 1 million hectares so that each farm鈥攅xpected to produce six to eight MT per hectare鈥攃ould produce a total of 6 to 8 million MT.
At the same time, the Palace said in a separate statement that there would be another round of cash aid payouts on Monday in Metro Manila and in Zamboanga del Sur to retailers affected by the government鈥檚 rice price cap.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said in a report that P15,000 cash grants would be distributed to 337 beneficiaries in Pateros, Navotas, Para帽aque, and Zamboanga del Sur.
Hunt for agri chief
The Palace said that while the government鈥檚 cash assistance continues, the DSWD and the Department of Trade and Industry would be meeting on Monday to identify other beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of President Marcos, speculated that the President may be looking for a possible agriculture secretary so that he could relieve himself of duties as concurrent agriculture secretary.
The senator, who was in Bacolod City on Friday, was responding to a question on whether she was in favor of her brother鈥檚 looking for a permanent agriculture secretary.
鈥淚 think he is actually looking now,鈥� the senator said, although she initially said no one can better address the profound problems of the agriculture sector except the President himself.鈥�