DA chief assures enough rice supply despite losses

The Department of Agriculture has assured that the stock of rice in the country remains stable despite billions of losses in the two typhoons that hit the country last week.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the typhoons' damage to rice products and other crops can be substituted by supplies from Mindanao.

"We should not worry because we have enough supply of rice. We have a very good harvest of palay in Mindanao," Alcala said.

He said that the agency is still in the process of estimating the actual damage wrought by typhoons Pedring and Quiel on the country's agricultural sector.

He added that the department is prepared to extend assistance to the farmers and their families whose plantations were affected by the typhoons.

Based on the latest estimate of the National Risk Reduction and Management Council, rice products damaged by typhoon Pedring in the National Capital Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol and Cordillera Administrative Region was estimated at P6,573,361,295.84.

The damage on rice products comprises the larger part of the typhoon's total estimated damage to agriculture, which has reached at least P7.55 billion.