(Eagle News)——President Rodrigo Duterte has allayed fears of a rice shortage in the country.
Speaking before the Filipino community in Israel on Sunday night, Duterte said “marami namang bigas.”
In fact, he said “paparating pa nga dito eh. Ngayon sumobra nga”
“Those are politics. I would like to remind you that I won because of the vote of the Filipino,” Duterte said.
Several people have called for the head of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol amid what some have dubbed as a rice crisis in Mindanao.
Piñol had said the rice shortage in select areas in Mindanao took place following a crackdown on rice smuggling.
He said the people in those areas had for years relied on smuggled rice.
Over the weekend, Duterte threatened to use his emergency powers against unscrupulous rice traders who hoard rice and drive up their prices.