Farmers working on a rice field in Mindanao. (File photo by ERWIN MASCARIÑAS / Inquirer Mindanao)

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Martin Romualdez thanked Filipino farmers and the Marcos administration for the 20 million metric tons (MT) of rice production in 2023, which he said significantly contributed to addressing the country’s problem with a shortage of the staple.

In a statement on Sunday, Romualdez disclosed that this figure is 1.5 percent higher than the one recorded in 2022, partly attributing the milestone to the government’s initiative to distribute quality seedlings and fertilizers.

He also explained that the production specifically contributed to the agricultural and fisheries sectors’ combined value of P1.763 trillion in 2023, higher than the P1.757 trillion recorded in the previous year.

“This exceptional achievement by our hardworking farmers is truly deserving of praise. They are undeniably the cornerstone and solution to our nation’s rice scarcity. This historic rice harvest signifies a glimmer of hope in resolving the rice shortage predicament we faced in the past year,” Romualdez said.

Last Feb. 2, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the achievement, saying that the production “played a crucial role in boosting the overall value of production in the agriculture and fisheries sectors to P1.763 trillion in 2023, surpassing the P1.757 trillion recorded in 2022.”

In September last year, Romualdez said his office also led the Bureau of Customs in raiding Bulacan warehouses suspected of hoarding rice, which aligns with the government’s initiative to address the shortage.

In a recent meeting with representatives of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders’ Movement (PRISM), the lawmaker also assured PRISM representatives of the government’s help in preventing the proliferation of rice hoarders and smugglers in the country in a bid to stabilize rice prices.

Published Date: February 11, 2024