The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the Filipino people that the Philippines has enough rice supply, which will last until next year due to the “bumper” harvest during the wet season in the country.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview during the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” briefing that the stable supply of rice began in August this year, and is expected to last until next month.

De Mesa said that they are expecting the national inventory stocks to reach 77 days this month, which is expected to increase up to 94 days in November this year due to the continued harvest this wet season.

The officials said that rice importation is not yet included in their count.

“So, maaasahan po natin na maganda at malaki po iyong national inventory natin ng bigas … Maasahan po natin na talagang sapat at maganda at matatag po ang supply ng bigas natin na maaasahan po natin hanggang sa pagpasok po ng susunod na taon na 2024,” De Mesa said.

With the expected stabilization of rice supply, De Mesa said that they do not see any movement of rice prices in the market.

“Mataas o bumper iyong ating harvest ngayong wet season. Magmula po noong katapusan ng Agosto, ngayong Setyembre hanggang Oktubre, hanggang sa Nobyembre po ay inaasahan po natin na talagang – wala po tayong inaasahan na pagsipa pa ng presyo,” he said.

“At kung papasok pa po iyong additional imports natin, nitong huling buwan ng Setyembre, pumalo po ito sa mahigit 271,000 metric tons at historically ay marami pa rin naman iyong pumapasok na imports sa last quarter na bahagi ng taon,” he added.

De Mesa said that the government is also working on reducing the cost of production in the Philippines in order to ensure the affordable prices of basic commodities in the market.