Press Release
June 25, 2008

ROXAS WARNS RICE CRISIS TO WORSEN IF "FRANK" DAMAGE NOT ADDRESSED
SEEDS, FERTILIZER AND CREDIT TO FARMERS NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN W. VISAYAS

Senator Mar Roxas warned that the rice price and supply situation could worsen if the medium-term impact of the damage caused by typhoon "Frank" on ricelands and crops is not addressed.

This, as he called the government to channel its resources in providing seeds, fertilizers and farm credit to rice farmers whose farmlands and crops were ravaged by the typhoon, as well as to repair damaged irrigation systems.

"The government should not end its work by distributing goods and relocating affected families alone. After relief, much attention has to be given not only to rehabilitating lives and livelihoods, but to rebuilding our food chains if we are to address 'Frank's' impact comprehensively," he said.

"The farms in Western Visayas have just been planted in preparation for the November harvest. All the seeds and fertilizers they loaned have now all been washed away. They badly need help so they could plant again," he added.

Roxas has been visiting typhoon-stricken areas in Western Visayas, particularly rice-planting provinces such as Iloilo, Aklan and Capiz, and coordinating relief efforts of national government agencies there. The senator, who hails from Capiz, stressed that Western Visayas, a net rice exporter to other parts of the country, is key to the sufficiency of rice stocks. Panay Island alone, he said, provides about 10% of the country's rice supply.

"We need to immediately give our farmers in Western Visayas the needed inputs and farm support, so that they may be able to plant again in the next few weeks. We need to rebuild fast" the Chairman of the Senate Trade Committee said. "If we don't address this, our supply crisis may again be exacerbated and the nation may very well feel another spike in rice prices in October or November," he stressed.

In Capiz, so far, there have been 54,000 families or 310,763 individuals reported to have been affected by the storm. 18 have been reported dead, 14 injured, and 8 more missing. Over 26,000 houses have been damaged by the storm, with nearly 5,000 of these completely destroyed. Capiz' agriculture has not been spared, with about 14,000 hectares of ricelands and 3,500 ha. of cornfields damaged.

According to official reports from the DA as of Tuesday afternoon, loss in farm crops nationwide reached roughly P1.3 billion, most of which are in Western Visayas, about P950 million. The total croplands affected nationwide were 127,356 hectares, of which 84,735 ha. are from Western Visayas. Loss in rice crops nationwide amounted to P646.65 million, of which P577.55 million are from Western Visayas.

Roxas added that other short-term concerns have to be addressed immediately, including repairs to damaged infrastructure and ensuring the supply of potable water. "A massive food-for-work program should be undertaken through local governments and the water supply should be restored immediately to avoid an outbreak of intestinal diseases. For my part, I'm working on bringing 50,000 bottles of potable water to Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan," he said.

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