Alcala assures stable rice supply

by Lito Dar & Joseph Zambrano

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala assured that there is enough and stable supply of rice this summer during a press conference at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Benguet State University, Wednesday.

Alcala denied a looming rice crisis in the Philippines despite an intelligence report citing the shrinking supply of the staple food of most of the 90 million Filipinos.

According to Alcala, only the National Food Authority (NFA) Council can determine and decide whether there is an impending shortage or a need for rice importation, and that nobody even him as council chair has the right to say such statement without the NFA Council approval.

Alcala also belied report that there will be an increase of about P2 for every kilo of rice. “Paano po tataas ang presyo eh ang daming bigas ngayon dahil harvest season,” (How can there be price increase when we have abundant rice supply because it is harvest season?), he stressed.

Alcala added that based on the reports he has received, this cropping season may have the highest yield in the dry season cropping history of the country. He attributed this to the early rain that provided ample water for irrigation and that the country was not hit by strong typhoons last year.


Alcala also assured that he would not allow any importation of rice at this point in time. We are closely working with our farmers and we could see their hard work in trying to hit our projection to be self sufficient in two years time. The government is 100 percent supporting our famers, Alcala said.

He also reiterates that there have been wrong information or reports that were circulating, that may be workings by a cartel or some individuals/groups that want to make money out of importation. (LD/JZ-PIA CAR)