Palace says food supply still adequate

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured yesterday the public of adequate food supply in the country in the aftermath of two destructive weather disturbances that damaged billions of pesos worth of infrastructure and agricultural properties.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Trade Secretary Peter Favila said “there is enough stocks for the whole year.”

“But the impact on the (food) supply could be felt by the first half of next year. So in 2009, we will not be having a problem because that is already provided for by our buffer stock,” Golez said.

“In the meantime, the President ordered (Yap) to immediately extend assistance to farmers displaced by the typhoons and ensure efficient supply in the coming month. Secretary Yap was also asked to import rice the earliest possible time to meet the demand in the future,” he said.

He said Favila also assured that “there is no problem in manufactured foods.”

“He (Favila) mentioned that the setback is in the distribution and he has already requested the private sector if they can lend delivery vans to ensure continuous supply in all supermarkets and stores,” he said.

NBI, DTI go after price

Violators, Hoarders

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday joined the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in closely monitoring the prices of commodities and the arrest of violators and hoarders.

Both the NBI and the DTI received reports that unscrupulous businessmen are resorting to overpricing and hoarding, following the declaration of national calamity due to storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

Deputy Director for Intelligence Services (DDIS) lawyer Ruel Lasala said they have tapped all units in the DDIS nationwide to conduct strict monitoring on traders, amid reports of overpricing in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Lasala said several NBI teams have been deployed to join DTI personnel in the operations and arrest price violators.

He said while some businessmen have donated relief goods to the affected families of typhoons, there are other unscrupulous traders who allegedly resorted to overpricing to the prejudice of the public, especially those severely affected by the typhoons.

“We have already a list of areas where the reported overpricing occurs,” he added.

Malacañang had earlier expanded the price control coverage to nationwide level as well as the list of products to include LPG, lubricants, agricultural products, construction materials and funeral services.

The Department of Health (DOH) said prices of all medicines would be frozen while the country is under a state of calamity.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this was agreed on in yesterday’s meeting of the Task Force on Price Control to help victims of Ondoy and Pepeng. – Paolo Romero, Sandy Araneta, Sheila Crisostomo