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Dried up rice fields in San Miguel, Bulacan due to the presence of a strong El Nino in the Philippines, in this photo taken on February 26, 2024.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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BULACAN

Joyce Balancio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171386875169520240226-el-nino-san-miguel-bulacan-JC-1124.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Dried-up rice fields in San Miguel, Bulacan due to the strong El Nino in the Philippines, in this photo taken on February 26, 2024.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file</div>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said the country has sufficient supply of rice despite the impact of El Niño on the agriculture sector.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/26/rice-farmers-of-looc-seek-rice-after-el-nino-destroys-crops-1011">READ: Rice farmers of Looc seek rice after El Niño destroys crops</a></div>“Well, kung ang pag-uusapan natin ay bigas, sapat naman ang ating supply. Hindi kailangang mag-alala ang tao. ‘Yung mga area. Sa katotohanan, ‘yung mga area na may patubig, tumaas pa ‘yung ating naging ani, ‘yung tons per hectare natin,” Marcos told reporters after a town hall meeting with residents of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.“Pero siyempre, marami pa. Kagaya dito, siguro mga 50 porsyento lamang ang irrigated at so, ‘yung iba talagang nahihirapan. Dito sa Occidental Mindoro, ang calculation namin, one percent lamang nung mga irrigated lands ang naapektuhan ng El Niño na talagang kailangan ng tulong,” he added. On Tuesday morning, Marcos also inspected the El Niño-hit farmlands in the province. He also led the distribution of agricultural machinery and equipment to farmers and fisherfolk, as well as various assistance from government to affected residents. Among the agencies that extended aid were the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, among others.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/4/22/agri-dept-eyes-10-day-buffer-stock-on-rice-corn-pork-1855">READ: Agri dept eyes 10-day buffer stock on rice, corn, pork</a> </div>In a situation briefing with local executives, Vice Governor Diana Tayag told Marcos of the impact of El Nino on Occidental Mindoro, which is under the state of calamity. She said 67 percent of land area of the province had been affected by the severe drought while 20% had been completely devastated. “This resulted (in) more than P900 million in losses to our farmers and the agricultural sector in our province,” she said.“Occidental Mindoro is one of the top producers of onion and palay. Since it is dry season, vast farm area in the province had been planted with onions resulting the damage of almost 300 million pesos in onions alone,” she said. To mitigate the effect of El Niño, Marcos said that the government is expediting the construction of solar water pumps and a dam which will aid in the irrigation of affected lands. “Marami tayong binigay, marami tayong dinadala na post-harvest facilities para imbes na ginigiling pa ‘yung palay, malayo pa ang dinadalhan, kung saan-saan pa dinadala kaya dito na gagawin para mayroon sa gastos, mayroon sa malaki ang kikitain ng farmer,” he said in an interview. Meanwhile, in a separate townhall meeting, Marcos also assured the residents of the government&#x27;s plans to construct cold storage facilities for its agricultural products, especially onion. He made the statement as an answer to a resident who asked about government’s solution to the impact of onion importation on their local produce. “Kapag may cold storage tayo hindi na kailangan ipagbili agad kung ano lang ang kailangan. Para na rin sa consumer iyong presyo eh, medyo pantay pantay kahit tag-araw o tag-ulan,” Marcos said. <div>POWER ISSUES</div>Marcos also told residents of Occidental Mindoro that his administration is looking for ways to help lower the price of electricity in the province. Electricity rate is currently at P20 per kilowatt hour, which far from P12 per kilowatt hour in Metro Manila, said Tayag.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/23/govt-eyes-solar-wind-power-to-solve-mindoros-energy-issues">READ: Gov&#x27;t eyes solar, wind power to solve Mindoro’s energy issues: Marcos</a> </div>“Sa Mindoro both Oriental and Occidental, ang long-term solution is ‘yung submarine cable para makabit na sa grid dahil ‘yun ang problema dito. Hindi pa nakakabit sa grid,” Marcos said. “Maglalagay na tayo ng submarine cable para dito, specifically sa Mindoro para ‘yung mga ibang lugar naman na sobra ang kanilang, mayroon silang excess capacity na tinatawag, hindi nagagamit, sayang. So, ‘yun, ‘yun ang pwede nating pag lipat-lipat kung saan ang pangangailangan,” he added. The President also said that the country’s electric supply is now normalizing, following the resumption of operations of various power plants that shut down last week. “So, ang power supply natin ay sapat naman. Nagkaka red and yellow lang tayo na alert pero sa kasalukuyan, nakikita namin, dahan-dahan bumabalik sa normal  na naman ‘yan. Maaayos  na natin ‘yung mga naging problema, ‘yung technical problem dun sa mga planta,” he said. Marcos also ruled out speculations that the shutdown of power plants was intentional. “Maraming nakikita ko sa news, eh baka mayroon daw nag-sabotahe. Pinag-aralan din namin ‘yan, wala naman,” he said. “Talagang, mabigat lang talaga ang load. Hindi kinaya ng ano tsaka nagka-technical problem, may piyesa run na kailangan palitan, kayat ‘yun ‘yung ginagawa ngayon, binabalik ng dahan-dahan,” he also added.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said the country has sufficient supply of rice despite the impact of El Niño on the agriculture sector.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said the country has sufficient supply of rice despite the impact of El Niño on the agriculture sector.

Marcos: Rice supply sufficient despite El Nino impact

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Marcos: Rice supply sufficient despite El Nino impact

Joyce Balancio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 23, 2024 07:07 PM PHT

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