Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar campaigned for the enhancement of urban agriculture in Metro Manila as a measure to address stability of food supply amid the spread of COVID 19.
“We need to promote proper implementation of urban agriculture in the Metropolis so that when there is tightening of food supply from the provinces there will be enough in the urban areas as well,” Dar said.
On the sidelines of the 25th anniversary of the National Dairy Authority, Dar assured that there will be enough food supply, particularly rice amid the panic caused by the Novel Coronavirus disease or COVID-19.
“In terms of rice, meron tayong 80 days rice inventory tapos itong March and April ay main harvest pa. So, I can see na meron tayong 5-6 months rice inventory until the next cropping,” Dar said.
According to the Secretary, because of the good weather condition, farmers in the provinces are starting to plant different crops. The Taal fishers have also started to harvest tilapia, which fills about 60 percent of the total requirement in Metro Manila.
Dar added that the Department continues to monitor the implementation of Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) in the public market.
On March 9, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed an Executive Order declaring a state of public health emergency in the entire country as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached to 24.
Dar advised everyone to be conscious of the precautionary measures being issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and directed all the Department agencies under DA to lessen the conduct of big gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
