QUEZON CITY, Mar. 21 -- No need to hoard or panic-buy.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar reassured the public yesterday that there is enough food supply for residents in Metro Manila and Luzon after the Philippine government imposed total lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19.

"Again, we assure Metro Manila residents that we have enough supply of food and fish in volumes we earlier reported. We will continue our coordination with other government agencies for the most efficient movement of food from the provinces to Metro Manila," Dar said.

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator, Atty. Judy Carol L. Dansal, reported on Friday, March 20 that they have completed the prepositioning of rice stocks ready for delivery and disbursement in strategic areas in Metro Manila.

The NFA currently has 400,000 bags (50 kilograms per bag) or 20,000 metric tons of rice in its warehouses around Metro Manila, which are enough rice to meet the requirement for the next two weeks - with additional rice supply readily available depending on the demand.

"We are prioritizing local government units for the sale of NFA rice," Dansal said, noting that they are now working on the payment scheme for interested LGUs.

Local government chiefs may coordinate with any NFA warehouse servicing their respective jurisdictions.

"For CAMANAVA, they can go to North District Office, while Quezon City and Manila can buy from our Central District Office. Meanwhile, those from Marikina and Rizal can coordinate with the East District Office and South District Office for Taguig, Pasay, Makati, Paranaque, and Pateros," Dansal added.

Secretary Dar also assured the public that Luzon currently has an inventory of 166,945 metric tons of vegetable and root crops, enough to cover the weekly demand of 27,686 metric tons. Projected production of 433, 495 metric tons is expected to augment supply after the 30-day quarantine period.

For poultry and meat, available supply was 269,259 metric tons and additional 75,391 metric tons projected production to cover the demand of 26,980 metric tons per week. Weekly fish requirement in Luzon is 35,491 metric tons while the supply is 52,088 metric tons, while 445,215 metric tons additional production is expected until June.

Meanwhile, weekly demand for eggs in Luzon around is 95.4 million pieces while supply is around 125.8 million. Weekly requirement for sugar is 21, 391 kilograms while the supply is 136, 920.

"As the country confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, we at the Department of Agriculture will make sure the sufficient and continuous supply of basic food commodities will be available in the public markets for the benefit of all family households, particularly depressed communities," Dar said. (MTQ/PIA-IDPD with additional information from DA)