House Agriculture Committee chair and ANAC-IP Rep. Jose Panganiban, Jr. called on the National Food Authority (NFA) and the country’s economic managers to reevaluate whether the amount of rice approved for importation early next year will be enough to cover the losses caused by Typhoon “Ompong.”
The country had planned to import an additional 383,500 tonnes of rice this year, on top of approved purchases of more than 1 million tonnes earlier this year. The NFA also has a standby authority to import an additional 250,000 tonnes early next year.
“Baka kailangan i-review ng NFA at economic managers natin kung magiging sapat ba ang balak nilang iangkat pagkatapos ng bagyong Ompong,” said Panganiban.
The country lost a total of 250,730 tonnes of paddy rice due to Typhoon “Ompong,” which hit the northern provinces over the weekend. The amount exceeded the Department of Agriculture’s forecast of up to 157,000 tonnes in a worst-case scenario.
Panganiban said it is important to determine whether or not the imports that have been approved would be enough to cover the crop loss from the typhoon, and to import more to prevent another rice crisis occurring in the future.
“It is important to determine whether or not the imports that have been approved would be enough to cover the crop loss from the typhoon, and to import more to prevent another rice crisis occurring in the future.”
“The country faces an average of 20 typhoons a year. We are only in September, so we expect that the typhoons that will follow will also result in agricultural loss,” the solon said.
He added that the challenge for the next NFA head would be in finding the right balance so that the country’s rice imports in the near future will cover potential losses and not result in over-importation.
“The challenge for the next NFA head would be in finding the right balance so that the country’s rice imports in the near future will cover potential losses and not result in over-importation.”
“That’s the NFA’s job, and I hope they will do their utmost to ensure we do not face another rice crisis,” said Panganiban.
