MANILA — The government estimates that rice farmers will harvest up to five million metric tons (MT) of palay until October and stabilize prices, Malacañang 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 two million MT with another three million MT coming in October for a total of five million MT. The estimates were based on satellite data of the Philippine Rice Information System, as of Aug. 14, Sebastian said.
“For the second semester, or July to December, we estimate to produce more than 11 million MT, and barring strong typhoons … we hope to hit the 20-million MT level for 2023,” 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 one million hectares so that each farm — expected to produce six to eight MT per hectare — could produce a total of six to eight 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’s 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, Parañaque, and Zamboanga del Sur.
Hunt for agri chief
The Palace said that while the government’s 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’s looking for a permanent agriculture secretary.
“I think he is actually looking now,” the senator said, although she initially said no one can better address the profound problems of the agriculture sector except the President himself.” (Jerome Aning, Carla Gomez © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
