President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits flood victims in evacuation centers in Bula town and Naga City in Camarines Sur in this file photo taken on October 26, 2024. As of Saturday morning, or five days since torrential rains spawned by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) began flooding the province, most of the villages in Camarines Sur remain submerged in floodwater.| PHOTO: Screengrabbed from Bongbong Marcos’ Facebook live
MANILA, Philippines — Due to recent devastation to agriculture caused by consecutive typhoons that hit the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government will have to import around 4.5 million tons of rice to suffice the needs of Filipinos.
READ: Agricultural damage due to Kristine climbs to P3.11B
He said this in an ambush interview after a Friday situation briefing on Typhoon Pepito.
READ: Pagasa issues upgraded rainfall warning as Pepito approaches Luzon
Marcos asked whether the damage to agriculture caused by typhoons in the past three weeks would result in rice importation, and Marcos said, “Yes.”
“Yes, I think so. Unfortunately. I just received a report from DA [Department of Agriculture] that it looks like our importation will decrease,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
“We will import close to four and a half million tons. Nag 3.9 million tayo last year [ We reached 3.9 million last year],“ he continued.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Pepito
But the president also assured that the Philippines’ food security remains alright.
“In terms of food security, we’re alright, but a lot of rice fields and crops have been damaged. We will just have to compensate for that,” he said.