00:00 The government is now aware of the possible effects of El Niño that will be experienced in some parts of the country.
00:06 In addition, the Department of Agriculture has promised that there should be no worries
00:11 in the supply of food to the country in the coming months.
00:15 Alan Francisco, in Central News, live.
00:18 Angelique, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Agriculture Department
00:27 to find ways to address the effects of El Niño in the country.
00:34 In a briefing in Malacanang earlier, Task Force El Niño Spokesperson Joey Villarama said
00:42 that this month, the most severe effects of El Niño in the country are expected.
00:46 As part of their focus, the ongoing compensation of irrigation canals due to the dams,
00:52 there are benefits to farmers and social protection, especially the directive of President Marcos,
00:58 according to Secretary Villarama, is intervention and mitigation.
01:02 In addition to El Niño, Villarama also said that from 50 provinces,
01:06 only 41 provinces are expected to be affected by severe El Niño.
01:11 So we have 17 provinces experiencing dry condition.
01:17 We have 10 provinces experiencing dry spell.
01:21 And then 14 provinces experiencing drought.
01:25 So from the task force or the macro perspective,
01:30 the task force and the principal agencies are working on it.
01:34 Although the government has assistance, the official admitted that there are still some unforeseen challenges.
01:41 This is the effect of the phenomenon.
01:43 The help of various government agencies such as Agriculture, DILG, DOST, DOE,
01:49 and others to fight the effects of El Niño.
01:52 In the middle of El Niño, Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro
01:56 stated that there is sufficient supply of rice, corn, vegetables, chicken, and other food in the country.
02:02 Do not worry, this is a good thing.
02:04 The challenge in rice, according to Usec Navarro, is not in its price,
02:08 but in the stabilization or maintenance of supply.
02:12 Even if we have small price or low price,
02:16 but if you do not have a supply, then we will have a problem.
02:19 In the other countries, for example, in Vietnam, the price now is something like 48.
02:26 In Thailand, it's something like 52.
02:30 So we are not far, no?
02:33 And they're supplying us with rice.
02:39 Angelique, the official also said that rice is the only gift on Valentine's Day.
02:46 Angelique, earlier in the sectoral meeting,
02:49 President Marcos ordered the FDA, or Food and Drug Administration,
02:55 to speed up the drug regulatory processes
02:58 to speed up the price of drugs being sold in the Philippines.
03:04 And speaking of drugs, the disease in animals, particularly avian,
03:10 and ASF, or African Swine Flu,
03:13 President Marcos also said to the FDA and the Agriculture Department
03:17 to fix the concerns so that the drugs against avian and ASF can be approved.
03:24 Live from Malacanang, Angelique.
03:27 Okay, thank you very much, Alan Francisco.
03:30 score.
