PHL on track to meet 100% rice self-sufficiency in 2016 – Agri chief

The Philippines is still on track to become 100 percent self-sufficient in rice by the end of the Aquino administration's term despite the pronouncements by a former senator and now presidential adviser that the goal will not be achieved, the Secretary of Agriculture said Monday.

 

"We have to remind him that we are already at 96 percent level, why go back to 90?" Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a briefing in Quezon City.

 

"Malayong-malayo naman po iyon. With all the intervention,  naisaayos from 82 to 96 [percent], maganda na po iyon. It means we are doing something right," he said.

 

Rice self-sufficiency means covering the yearly domestic consumption, plus a 90-day buffer stock.

 

Alcala issued the statement after former Senator and current Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan last week said he was happy with 90 to 95 percent self-sufficiency in 2016 and will import more to cover the buffer stock.

 

Pangilinan said there will no time frame in hitting the much coveted 100 percent self-sufficiency, Reuters reported last Wednesday.

 

The former senator was appointed to the post last May by President Benigno Aquino III. The presidential  adviser role was also tasked to tackle the concerns related to food and agriculture. His appointment came amid Alcala's controversial involving Alcala in the pork barrel scam. 

 

The Agriculture secretary said he already talked to Pangilinan on the need to "fine tune" the data given to the former senator.

 

"Napagusapan na po namin at sinabi ko sa kanya na I think dapat i-fine tune 'yun," Alcala said. "Kasi baka po may ilang tao na sisihin agad si Secretary Kiko dahil bago lang po siya sa posisyon, baka iba po 'yung naibigay sa kanya na mga datos." 

 

The DA said last week it expects the country to produce 59.68 million metric tons (MT) of rice over the next three years in line with the Aquino administration goal of achieving self-sufficiency in the staple food of Filipinos.

 

The government targeted to reach self-sufficiency in 2013, but palay production reached only 18.03 million metric tons last year – short of the 19 million MT target – due to killer Typhoon Yolanda. – VS, GMA News