Strategic stockpilesThe one glaring lesson staring our leaders in the face is the failure to have a strategic petroleum reserve of at least 60 to 100 days. “Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are constraining global fertilizer supplies, driving sharp price increases and disrupting trade flows for key agricultural inputs. It was reported that local palay (unmilled rice) production rose to 19.68 million metric tons (MT) last year. Fertilizers are increasingly viewed as a critical component of “supply chain security” because they are the cornerstone of food production. Aside from oil, major global powers maintain massive strategic reserves of food and medical supplies.

Source: Philippine Star March 24, 2026 16:38 UTC