Food supply stable for the holidays – Palace

Malacañang gave assurance yesterday of ample supply of rice, chicken and other agricultural produce in the coming holiday season even as officials said the government is exerting efforts to maintain stable consumer prices.

Palace deputy spokesman Anthony Golez and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, in separate statements, said President Arroyo has ordered various agencies to ensure steady food supply to prevent prices from increasing and make them more accessible to the public, especially the poor.

“We expect that with the steady supply of agricultural products, Filipino families will enjoy stable prices during this coming holiday season,” Golez said.

He noted that the strong peso has protected farmers and consumers from the increase in oil prices.

During “The Cabinet Speaks” forum at the Palace hosted by Undersecretary Martin Crisostomo and dzMM reporter Ruby Bernardo-Tayag, Yap said the President has directed the National Food Authority (NFA) to increase the buying price from P10 to P11.50 per kilogram.

He said the move helps increase food production that mitigates the hunger problem and increase farmers’ earnings in the process.

Yap said the government has imported a total of 1.6 metric tons of rice from January to October and the volume is enough to cover the country’s requirements until early next year.

He said the government plans to start the importation process of rice for next year by December since he expects a worldwide tightening of food supply due to various factors.

On chicken, Yap said a total of three million kilos have been imported. This plus local production, he noted, is more than enough for the holiday season and would stabilize prices despite the expected increase in demand.

He said the three-million kilo volume was the requirement set by poultry industry for the country’s needs.

Yap also said there is enough supply of fish, pork and other meats that are expected to be also in high demand in the coming holiday season.   – Paolo Romero