DA to work with ASEAN trading partners to ensure food supply

The national government has approved the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with Southeast Asian trading partners to ensure that there will be enough food for the public as the country battles the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

- ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS and ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

Based on the most recent bulletin from the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the DA, including the departments of Finance (DOF) and Trade and Industry (DTI), shall work with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trading partners and encourage them to refrain from imposing trade-restrictive measures to ensure that existing supply contracts are prioritized.

It includes the importation of an additional 300,000 metric tons of rice, if necessary, through Government-to-Government arrangements with ASEAN trading partners and/or from all sources, including India and Pakistan at the ASEAN-level tariff.

The DA's Plant, Plant, Plant Program or 4Ps in Agriculture, in addition, shall be provided the necessary budgetary allocations amounting to P31 billion in order to implement, expand, and increase food adequacy in the country.

The IATF, meanwhile, reiterated that farmers and fishers are now allowed to continue their activities during the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Luzon.

Last week, the IATF approved DA's recommendation to exempt all healthy farmers, farmworkers, fishers, and agri-business personnel from the quarantine restrictions so they continue operating.