THE Department of Agriculture assured Sunday the availability of rice and other agricultural products despite the pummeling the country’s plantation fields in Northern and Central Luzon got as a result of two weather disturbances passing through one after the other last week. In a report to the President presented at a briefing held at the National Risk Reduction and Management Council in Camp Aguinaldo, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the staple could be sourced from Mindanao. He added that his agency was still in the process of estimating the damage wrought by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” on the country’s agricultural sector but assured he would have the numbers soon. “He said the DA was ready to extend any assistance to the farmers and their families whose plantations were affected by the typhoons. (PCOO)
