00:00Stockpiles of the country's staple grain and food items are pre-positioned in warehouses
00:04across the nation in the event another devastating natural calamity hits anytime soon.
00:10A precautionary measure that ensures the country's preparedness for whatever urgency
00:15or contingency comes its way that our Clay Silpardilia takes on in this report.
00:23The Department of Agriculture has assured the public of a sufficient rice supply in
00:27the event of an emergency. Agriculture Secretary Francisco T. Laurel Jr. revealed some 2 million
00:33bags of rice are stockpiled in National Food Authority warehouses across the country.
00:39This inventory is good to go for immediate deployment to address emergencies and calamities.
00:45In preparation for La Nina and the impending severe weather conditions,
00:49including Typhoon Henare, the DA has mobilized its resources to support farmers.
00:54The move aims to put to work mitigation measures
00:58to safeguard agricultural productivity from potential weather-related disruptions.
01:03As of the moment, we're expecting because of La Nina that there will be one or two more
01:08giant storms there. We have prepared advanced preparation for seeds, you know,
01:13in case we really get hit again. We really have to replant as fast as possible.
01:17Even the farm machineries like direct seeders that are needed,
01:21they're arriving already so that we can do a quick turnaround and replant. Of course,
01:30crop insurances. The Department of Agriculture is confident rice prices to come down.
01:37By the end of 2028, it's very much achievable to have 29 to 32 pesos per kilo.
01:49To achieve this goal, the agency is ramping up the distribution of free,
01:53high-yielding variety of seeds. Additionally, it is providing low or interest-free loans
01:59to incentivize farmers to expand crop production. The Agriculture Department
02:04is also focused on constructing ports facilities for agricultural products,
02:09which will help reduce logistic costs associated with fertilizers.
02:15Kalay Zangpardiliya for the new and better Philippines.
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