DA: Supply of veggie, fish remains stable despite Carina, habagat

MANILA – Supply of vegetables, fish and other agricultural commodities, including rice, remains stable in the aftermath of the enhanced southwest monsoon and Super Typhoon Carina, the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured Wednesday.

This came after agricultural damage rose to P1.21 billion for 22,088 metric tons (MT) of volume loss, affecting 46,625 farmers and fishers, according to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center bulletin no. 14.

In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa allayed concerns over the possible price spikes of highland and lowland vegetables.

"We are happy na hindi masyadong naapektuhan iyong Calabarzon. Kasi Calabarzon, iyan iyong malapit sa Metro Manila na source ng gulay natin, lalo na pakbet (mixed vegetable flavored with bagoong) (Calabarzon is not much affected. Because Calabarzon, that's near to Metro Manila which is our source of vegetable, especially for pakbet)," he said.

For high-value crops, the DA-DRRM reported around 2,044 MT volume loss amounting to P88.81 million. Areas affected include parts of the Cordilleras and Mimaropa.

"Iyong part ng Banahaw doon sa ating (In the part of Banahaw for our) upland vegetables, we are not much worried. May kaunting pagtaas siguro but hindi masyado (there may be a price increase but it's not that much)," De Mesa added.

De Mesa also assured of "minimal" price adjustments in fish products despite the effects of both enhanced southwest monsoon and the threat of oil spill in several waters.

"Iyong presyo siguro mag-a-adjust nang very minimal pero we are not expecting ng malaking pagbabago sa mga presyo (The prices may have very minimal adjustments but we are not expecting significant price changes)," he said.

"Ang closed fishing season pa natin ay November so makaka-recover pa rin naman (will be in November so they can still recover)," De Mesa said as the fisheries sector incurred around P360.80 million worth of damage affecting 3,334 fishers, mostly in Pampanga and Bulacan.

For rice, the DA maintained there is no reason for a retail price hike considering stable supply from both dry season harvest and rice imports.

As of July 20, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) reported the arrival of 56,000 MT of rice under the lowered tariff of 15 percent.

The DA, meanwhile, assured immediate aid to affected rice farmers.

"On the production side, ang utos ni (the order of) Secretary (Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.) upon the instruction of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) na iyong mga areas (is that for areas) especially Region III, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan na naapektuhan ay mabigyan agad ng binhi for (that are affected should be given seedlings for a) quick turnaround," De Mesa said, citing recovery for the wet season harvest from October to November.

To date, the damage incurred in the rice sector climbed to P635.17 million, or 10,639 MT in volume. (PNA)