THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said that the Philippines may be self-sufficient in rice by 2028 or by the end of the term of the Marcos administration.

According to NIA acting administrator Engr. Eduardo Guillen, this is because of the plans to make such goal happen and construct dams– both reservoir and diversion types– as he stressed the need for adequate water supply.

“Confident ako na by siguro mga 2028, rice sufficient na tayo dahil sa ating maidaragdag na area for irrigation,” he said.

According to the Department of Agriculture, in April 2023, they were targeting self-sufficiency by 2027.

The administration said tha feat can be achieved through its Masagana Rice Program 2023-2028.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., said that the government can carry out major reorganization within some agencies, and the country will be self-sufficient in two years.

The Masagana Rice Program aims to “stabilize the country’s rice supply between 24.99 million metric tons (MT) to 26.86 million MT, lower rice inflation to less than 1% annually, increase farmers’ income by 54%, and ensure rice availability and safety at all times by maintaining sufficient rice buffer stock at the DA-National Food Authority (NFA) as mandated by the Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.”

“Obviously ang number one na tututukan natin ay ang water supply, ‘yung tubig—kung paano natin matutulungan ang farmers sa tubig dahil ito talaga ang kailangan natin sa food production,” he said.