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The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has dispatched a research team to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, to assess the capabilities of the Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) in supporting proactive measures to manage inflation.

PRiSM utilizes satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensing to collect rice field data, which remains unaffected by cloud cover. The SAR data collected is reported to have an overall accuracy of up to 95%, validated on the ground by PRiSM data collectors across the country using a mobile application for efficient data recording and uploading.

PRiSM relies on SAR images provided by the satellite Sentinel-1A, with plans to incorporate data from the upcoming Sentinel-1C satellite to further enhance its operations.

The NEDA’s Rory Jay Dacumos, assistant director of the NEDA Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff, explains the need for additional data sources to enhance inflation analysis, particularly concerning rice, a staple food affected by volatile weather conditions.

Compared to the quarterly data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), PRiSM aims to provide validated rice field data to registered stakeholders on the 7th day of every subsequent month.

Dacumos highlights the reasonably accurate nature of PRiSM data, expressing optimism that it can enhance policy recommendations related to inflation.

In cases where SAR images are insufficient, PRiSM has the capability to process secondary data, including information obtained through the use of drones.

The compiled data is presented through rice area maps, showcasing areas where rice is planted, the timing of planting, estimated yields, provinces impacted by flooding or drought, and potential areas for rice crop monitoring.

While PRiSM currently focuses on rice, Dacumos discusses the possibility of adapting the technology and methodology for monitoring other crops, according to PhilRice.

PhilRice took over the operations of PRiSM in 2018, assisting the Department of Agriculture in making informed decisions for policymaking and planning. Since then, PhilRice has continuously worked to improve the methodology and technology of PRiSM.

NEDA chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook, responsible for offering high-level policy advice to address inflation concerns. This includes the analysis of timely data to provide anticipatory policy recommendations.

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