By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS , GMA News The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured that the country has a sufficient supply of rice, while looking at an additional P30-billion in government support for farmers and fisherfolk given the continuous increase in farm input costs due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the country has a stable supply, with warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) nearly full, and the current global rice availability as major exporters such as India and Vietnam in peak harvest season. “If ever there will be a problem, it’s not going to be this year,” he said in a statement. Tiu Laurel also denied claims that imported rice was being used for the administration’s P20-per-kilo rice program, but hinted that this could be realized in the future should domestic rice production contract sharply. “Totally not true,” he said in the same statement, pointing to a 20% decline in ...