Nation sufficient in rice by year 2010 – Teves

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Finance Secretary Margarito Teves renewed yesterday the government’s vow to attain rice sufficiency before or in 2010, curb energy problems and institute measures to help the poor cope with food and energy crisis.

Teves revealed the three-pronged measures during yesterday’s joint meeting of the Regional Development Council, Regional Peace and Order Council and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council at the Phela Grande Convention Center here.

Under the rice program, Teves said, Mrs. Arroyo ordered the release of P3.9 billion in fertilizer assistance, P1-billion assistance for seeds, P2-billion to reduce post-harvest losses, P4.15-billion for small irrigation facilities and P15 billion for constructing 9,227.16 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

He disclosed that so far, the government has restored and rehabilitated facilities to irrigate 109,986 hectares of farmlands, and constructed 5,303.55 kilometers of farm-to-market roads and 29 additional post-harvest facilities under its in rice sufficiency program.