Yap allays fears of looming food crisis, says RP can cope
06/30/2008 | 06:00 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The agriculture department on Monday downplayed reports of an impending food crisis, saying that only about three percent of this year's agricultural production - about P5 billion - had been lost due to typhoon Frank.
According to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, there was still time to offset the loss as the planting season is still on going until September 15.
"There's still time to run after and make up for the losses because we still have a planting horizon of up to September 15. Everything that is planted on the ground up to September 15 can still be harvested this year. So if you look at the damages, the total impact on national production would be about 3 percent. So, kaya pang habulin," he said.
Yap made the remarks during a chance interview at the Villamor Air Base after the send off ceremonies for relief items for Iloilo and Aklan, some of the hardest-hit areas.
The remark was made in reaction to the statement of Presidential assistant for the Western Visayas Raul Bañas who warned of a food crisis looms in one to two months because of the heavy typhoon damage.
Bañas said a total of 22,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged and 66,000 metric tons of livestock and fisheries were wiped out in Western Visayas alone.
He also said that the region’s water system was also affected and power lines were also destroyed in some areas. He appealed for donations of potable water.
But this was countered by Yap who said that of the P5 billion loss is divided into two - P2.5 to P2.6 billion of which is fisheries products including fish ponds and vessels while the other half covers crops like rice, corn and vegetables.
"Basta sa rice kakayanin, sa corn kakayanin pa rin, sa fisheries...Iyun ang pag-aaralan dahil we have to find a way for some other commercial fisheries players to take care of the slack," he said.
Yap said the government is looking at possible livelihood programs to assist the farmers and fishermen whose source of income had been severely affected by the typhoon.
In Dumangas in Iloilo for instance, at least 100 hectares of farmlands are under some three feet of mud following heavy flooding in the province.
At least 30 percent of the commercial fishing fleet in Iloilo were also washed out after some 63 fishing boats went down at the height of the typhoon.
Yap said despite these loss, there is no impending rice crisis in the Panay island or the country in general.
"No, in terms of rice (especially). I think this calamity very clearly illustrates why we have to have that rice in a very aggressive volume...Tingnan mo ngayon may stock, wala tayong takot," he said.
He, however, reminded that in areas where a state of calamity had already been declared, the prevailing prices of rice and other commodity at the time of the declaration should be maintained.
He added that if any price adjustment is necessary, only up to 10 percent of the price could be raised.
"I've given the National Food Authority the order, prices that are moving beyond 10 percent, you should file cases of profiteering against the retailers. You can also file summary proceedings for seizure of goods and sell it to the public at reasonable amounts," Yap said.
For his part, National Disaster Coordinating Council director general Glenn Rabonza said damages wrought by Frank now amounts to P7.5 billion - P5.2 billion covering agriculture; P1.6 billion in infrastructure; P500 million school buildings; and P148 million other damaged facilities.
Rabonza also said a total population of 3.6 million had been affected by the typhoon, with 540 dead, 41 missing, and 175 injured.
The NDCC death toll does not include the casualties from M/V Princess of the Stars.
He added that the worst hit areas are the provinces of Panay, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique and Capiz. - GMANews.TV
According to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, there was still time to offset the loss as the planting season is still on going until September 15.
"There's still time to run after and make up for the losses because we still have a planting horizon of up to September 15. Everything that is planted on the ground up to September 15 can still be harvested this year. So if you look at the damages, the total impact on national production would be about 3 percent. So, kaya pang habulin," he said.
Yap made the remarks during a chance interview at the Villamor Air Base after the send off ceremonies for relief items for Iloilo and Aklan, some of the hardest-hit areas.
The remark was made in reaction to the statement of Presidential assistant for the Western Visayas Raul Bañas who warned of a food crisis looms in one to two months because of the heavy typhoon damage.
Bañas said a total of 22,000 hectares of rice fields were damaged and 66,000 metric tons of livestock and fisheries were wiped out in Western Visayas alone.
He also said that the region’s water system was also affected and power lines were also destroyed in some areas. He appealed for donations of potable water.
But this was countered by Yap who said that of the P5 billion loss is divided into two - P2.5 to P2.6 billion of which is fisheries products including fish ponds and vessels while the other half covers crops like rice, corn and vegetables.
"Basta sa rice kakayanin, sa corn kakayanin pa rin, sa fisheries...Iyun ang pag-aaralan dahil we have to find a way for some other commercial fisheries players to take care of the slack," he said.
Yap said the government is looking at possible livelihood programs to assist the farmers and fishermen whose source of income had been severely affected by the typhoon.
In Dumangas in Iloilo for instance, at least 100 hectares of farmlands are under some three feet of mud following heavy flooding in the province.
At least 30 percent of the commercial fishing fleet in Iloilo were also washed out after some 63 fishing boats went down at the height of the typhoon.
Yap said despite these loss, there is no impending rice crisis in the Panay island or the country in general.
"No, in terms of rice (especially). I think this calamity very clearly illustrates why we have to have that rice in a very aggressive volume...Tingnan mo ngayon may stock, wala tayong takot," he said.
He, however, reminded that in areas where a state of calamity had already been declared, the prevailing prices of rice and other commodity at the time of the declaration should be maintained.
He added that if any price adjustment is necessary, only up to 10 percent of the price could be raised.
"I've given the National Food Authority the order, prices that are moving beyond 10 percent, you should file cases of profiteering against the retailers. You can also file summary proceedings for seizure of goods and sell it to the public at reasonable amounts," Yap said.
For his part, National Disaster Coordinating Council director general Glenn Rabonza said damages wrought by Frank now amounts to P7.5 billion - P5.2 billion covering agriculture; P1.6 billion in infrastructure; P500 million school buildings; and P148 million other damaged facilities.
Rabonza also said a total population of 3.6 million had been affected by the typhoon, with 540 dead, 41 missing, and 175 injured.
The NDCC death toll does not include the casualties from M/V Princess of the Stars.
He added that the worst hit areas are the provinces of Panay, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique and Capiz. - GMANews.TV
