President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Wednesday that he does not anticipate a rice crisis in the country, despite concerns raised by farmer groups.
He acknowledged that there may be a chance of a decrease in rice supply due to the recent planting season, but stated that the government is closely monitoring the production levels.
"There is a chance na ninipis talaga ‘yung supply. So we are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season," said the president.
The Department of Agriculture has also stated that the supply remains stable and that there is expected to be a surge in stocks after the March and April harvests.
While Marcos mentioned that importing rice is an option that the government is considering, he expressed optimism that there will be enough supply to keep prices stable, as long as external factors remain favorable.
"Basta’t swertehin tayo nang kaunti, ‘di naman tayong masyadong mag-Odette ulit o isang malaking problema… Basta all things remaining equal, we have enough supply, and that we’ll be able to keep the prices stable," he added.
