No shortage of agriculture commodities this holiday season – DA

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no shortage of agricultural commodities coming into the Christmas holiday season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public.

Key commodities, including rice, pork, sugar and chicken, will have enough supply until the end of the year, according to Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, DA spokesman, in an interview on radio dzRH.

He noted that for rice, the country is set to hit its highest production of 20 million metric tons, owing to better weather conditions in the past year.

He added that following the harvest season this November and the recent imports, the DA will achieve a 90-day national stock inventory going into 2024.

As for pork and chicken, he noted that local production and some imports will assure that supply can meet the demand, which tends to increase during the holidays.

“We have 395,000 MT of pork produced in the 4th quarter and we have additional imports in the past months. For chicken, we have more than enough local production,” he said.

Meanwhile, De Mesa said that new Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., will give his marching orders to the department tomorrow.

President Marcos had been holding the DA secretary position since he assumed office in June 2022.

Marcos ordered Laurel to control the surge of prices of agricultural products in the country.