DA: No shortage of rice, corn supply despite 'Mina' devastation

Despite the devastation brought by tropical cyclone “Mina" (Nanmadol), agriculture officials assured the public there is no shortage of rice or corn supply in the country. Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Department of Agriculture still expects a good harvest of corn this year, while more than 60 percent of some 200,000 metric tons of imported rice has not been consumed. “Sa mais we are anticipating sobrang ganda ang harvest ng mais. Merong nakalagay na silo. Sa bigas, sa in-import natin, 200,000 metric tons allocation sa flooding at storm na tatama sa ating bansa," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Out of the 200,000 metric tons of rice, he said only 36.98 percent had been consumed. Alcala also said he has instructed the National Food Authority to store mostly palay (grains) instead of rice in warehouses so it will not spoil quickly. “Huwag kayo mag-alala, hindi tayo mawalan ng supply ng bigas," he said. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had said in its 6 a.m. Thursday update that damage to agriculture has amounted to P1,221,891,396.39. Meanwhile, Alcala advised farmers in storm-prone areas to plant cash crops that can be harvested quickly. “We advise farmers in storm-prone areas to plant cash crops that can be harvested quickly," he said. — LBG, GMA News