00:00Despite a shortfall in rice and pork production in the second quarter of this year, the National
00:05Irrigation Administration is all set to kick off its much-awaited open sale of 29 pesos
00:10for a kilo of rice in less than 24 hours.
00:13The open sale means all consumers get a crack at 10 kilos of dirt-cheap, well-milled rice
00:19despite the elderly, disabled, single parents and four-piece beneficiaries getting first
00:24dips.
00:25As our Claes Olpardilla reports.
00:29The National Irrigation Administration is set to commence its sale of affordable rice
00:34at 29 pesos per kilogram starting tomorrow in Quezon City.
00:38In advance of this launch, the Department of Agriculture has announced the sale of
00:42more affordable rice has already begun at several Cadiwa centers managed by the NIA
00:48in various provinces.
00:51Under the NIA's Concha Growing Program, consumers can purchase up to 10 kilograms
00:55of locally-sourced, newly-harvested rice.
00:59This initiative aims to provide accessible and cost-effective rice to the public.
01:04While the sale is open to everyone, the Department of Agriculture has indicated that priority
01:10will be given to specific groups including elderly, persons with disability, single parents
01:16and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
01:20The objective is to give the opportunity to consumers to buy affordable rice in areas
01:32of the Irrigators' Association in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Carraga.
01:40This will help to reduce inflation.
01:46The supply is enough, especially rice, and our import is bigger over the same period
01:53as last year, already at 2.49 million metric tons.
01:57The Agriculture Department has assured the public that the country's food supply remains
02:02stable, despite a percent drop in production from the agricultural and fishing sectors.
02:07According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the value of agricultural production
02:13went down from Php 427 billion in the second quarter of 2023 to Php 413 billion during
02:20the same period this year.
02:22This decline is largely due to lower harvests of rice and other crops attributed to the
02:28drought.
02:29Hog production in the Philippines has also declined, while poultry and fisheries output
02:57slightly increased.
02:58The DA is now preparing for potential adverse effects for the anticipated fallout of La
03:04NiƱa.
03:05The DA is prioritizing the construction of water impounding systems aimed at collecting
03:10rainwater and providing crucial irrigation for agricultural lands.
03:15DA eyes emergency procurement of ASF vaccines to address ASF outbreak in Batangas.
03:23This initiative is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the impact of ASF outbreak and
03:29improve overall agricultural productivity.
03:32In addition to these measures, the government is rolling out extensive support under the
03:36Masagana Rice Industry Programs.
03:40This program includes the distribution of free seeds, fertilizers, and other forms of
03:44assistance to boost rice production.
03:47Kalei zalpar, Liliya, for the new and better Philippines.
