TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office VIII (DA-8) has reassured residents across Eastern Visayas that the region maintains a secure and stable food supply as local farming communities enter the peak harvest season.
Despite the looming threat of dry spells associated with El Niño, agricultural authorities are strengthening proactive mitigation measures to safeguard crop yields, protect fisheries, and support vulnerable farming households.
Managing Regional Rice Reserves
Addressing regional supply levels, DA-8 Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapanas highlighted that while Eastern Visayas relies on external shipments to meet approximately 30 percent of its total rice requirements, buffer stock mechanisms remain robust.
Imported stocks alongside inter-regional trade from neighboring agricultural hubs continue to bridge local yield gaps, while the National Food Authority (NFA) maintains strategic rice reserves across regional warehouses to prevent supply disruptions or sudden price spikes.
Expanding Affordable Rice Access And Kadiwa Outlets
To cushion consumers against food inflation and ensure direct market access for rural producers, DA-8 is accelerating the rollout of national food security programs, including the PBBM Rice Program.
As part of this effort, a three-day Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade fair is taking place in Barangay Marasbaras, Tacloban City, running from October 13 to 15, 2026.
The direct-to-consumer agri-market enables agricultural cooperatives, smallholder farmers, and local food processors to sell fresh produce, rice, livestock, and fishery goods at subsidized, affordable prices while eliminating intermediary markups.
DA-8 continues to monitor climate forecasts alongside local irrigation networks, working with local government units across Leyte, Samar, and Biliran to distribute drought-resilient seed varieties and water management technology.
