By Junex Doronio
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday expressed optimism that the supply of rice in the country will be stable in the first quarter of 2024.
DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa noted the peak of harvest for the wet season has already started this October.
He added that the national stock inventory of rice is expected to last up to 77 days and up to 94 days at the end of the harvest this November.
With this development, De Mesa said the national stock inventory of rice is expected to reach up to 2.4 million metric tons at the end of the third quarter of 2024, which will last for about 60 to 90 days.
However, the DA kept mum on the feasibility that the P20 per kilo of rice will be achieved next year.
Then presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr vowed during the campaign in 2022 that if elected, he would pull down the price per kilo of rice to P20. (ai/mnm)
