President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that the Philippines will import more rice this year due to the damage caused by recent typhoons. The country plans to import around 4.5 million tons of rice, up from 3.9 million tons last year. Marcos explained that although rice imports are increasing, he doesn’t expect the prices to rise because imported rice prices have dropped significantly. He also pointed out that while the Philippines was severely affected by typhoons, other Southeast Asian countries weren’t hit as hard.
He reassured the public that the government is doing everything possible to keep food prices stable, especially for products that were damaged or destroyed by the typhoons. In the past three weeks, six typhoons, including Pepito, Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, and Ofel, have affected the country. The government is working hard to manage the aftermath of these storms and ensure that people can still afford basic goods.
