Local fish, pork, rice supply insufficient, says Agri chief Dar

Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday said there is still a shortage in local supply of fish, pork, and rice due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the long neglect in the agriculture sector.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Dar defended the importation of fish from critics, including fishermen, who claim there is enough fish supply in the country.

"Yung supply ngayon, overall, sumatotal ay may kakulangan pa tayo sa isda, sa baboy, yung rice ay 92% lang tayo. Yun ang sitwasyon, local food production is not enough,” he said.

(The supply now, overall, we still have scarcity in fish, pork, and our rice is only at 92%. That is the situation, our local food production is not enough.)

Aside from the global impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the long neglect in the agriculture sector also caused the problem in local food supply, according to Dar.

He said the Philippines only allot 1.5% of its budget for the agriculture sector while other countries dedicate 3.5% to 6% of their budget.

The Department of Agriculture has already come up with an action plan to address the impact of the war on the agriculture sector, which has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, Dar said.

In line with this, the Department is requesting for a P24 billion additional budget for this year, he added. —KBK, GMA News