Manila, Nov. 4 -- The Philippines may post a record-high palay (unhusked rice) harvest of 20.2 million metric tons (MT) by the end of 2025, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday.

In a Palace press briefing, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the projected volume would surpass the previous record of 20.06 million MT in 2023.

"With conservative estimates, this will become another record harvest for us this year at 20.2 million metric tons," he said.

The outlook already factors in the effects of several weather disturbances, with around 7.5 million MT of palay expected to be harvested in the last quarter of the year.

Average annual production losses due to natural calamities in the Philippines range from 500...