May 27, 2024

 

Philippines' Agriculture Secretary monitors price movements as country prepares for La Nina

Philippines' Agriculture Secretary Francisco "Kiko" Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that he is personally overseeing the movement of prices for rice, corn, and other agricultural products as the country transitions from El Nino to La Nina weather conditions, Philippine News Agency reported.

 

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr's directive to ensure national food security, Laurel stated that the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) will monitor the impact of the weather transition on the agriculture sector to safeguard both farmers and consumers.

 

The country's agricultural sector has been affected by the extremely hot and dry conditions brought on by El Nino in recent months. The arrival of La Nina is expected to bring heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding and impact agricultural lands.

 

Laurel has initiated the operationalisation of the Climate Resilient Agriculture Steering Committee (CRASC) to provide strategic direction and oversee the mobilisation of DA resources for climate change response.

 

The CRASC will be led by Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations Asis Perez, with co-chairs Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro and Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance-Foreign Aid/Grants Jerome Oliveros.

 

Laurel is also a member of the presidential Task Force El Nino, chaired by National Defence Secretary Gilberto C Teodoro Jr. and co-chaired by Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum. During a recent task force meeting, Teodoro warned that the government would act against hoarders and manipulators exploiting consumers as the country braces for La Nina.

 

Teodoro emphasised the Department of National Defence (DND) is prepared to support agencies involved in the price monitoring of necessities and prime commodities. He highlighted the need to intensify price and supply monitoring efforts in markets to protect consumers from profiteering amid the weather phenomenon.

 

Under President Marcos' Executive Order (EO) 53 signed on January 19, 2024, select national government agencies have been directed to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under EO No. 16 (s. 2001) and Memorandum Order No. 38 (s. 2019). EO 53 mandates the task force to develop a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan for El Nino and La Nina, aiming for "systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions" to mitigate their devastating effects.

 

President Marcos also designated the following officials as task force members: Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel, Secretary of Health Teodoro J Herbosa, and Secretary of National Economic and Development Authority Arsenio M Balisacan.

 

-      Philippine News Agency