Philippines' rice supply sufficient until January despite typhoon damage

The Philippines' rice supply is sufficient until January next year despite damage caused by recent typhoons, according to Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Dar stated that the current inventory will cover 82 days of demand starting in January 2021 and new production can be harvested by late March or April.

Combined damages from Typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses amount to P12.3 billion with Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and Bicol being the most affected regions.

Dar also noted that more rice imports are expected in 2021 due to typhoon damage, potentially dropping sufficiency levels from a targeted 93% to around 89-90%, necessitating an importation of about 10% of total consumption.