"La Nina is already in a decaying stage," Cruz told Reuters by telephone.

"But even if La Nina is about to end, we should be prepared for the coming of the rainy season which will start in the second half of May until September."

About 20 typhoons hit the Philippine archipelago each year, seven of which cross the country, mostly during the rainy season. Two tropical cyclones have already swept through the southeast Asian country this year.

La Nina, which is associated with increased rainfall, storms and flooding in most parts of Asia, was felt in the Philippines from December till March.

During that time, most parts of the Philippines experienced above average rainfall, Cruz said.

Mudslides triggered by heavy rains entombed a community of 1,800 in Guinsaugon on Southern Leyte province, about 675 km (420 miles) southeast of Manila, in February.

Incessant rains since December also damaged some crop areas, forcing local feedmillers, poultry and livestock firms to import about 217,000 tonnes of corn since January.

The volume of imports since the start of the year was nearly four times the 55,000 tonnes of corn bought in 2005.

But the increased rainfall this year was good for rice growers.

Gregorio Tan, administrator of the National Food Authority of NFA, said ample water for irrigation would enable farmers to plant more and harvest the bulk of the main rice crop early.

The main rice harvest in the Philippines, which accounts for 40-45 percent of annual output, usually occurs in the fourth quarter.

But with good water reserves in dams and irrigation facilities due to La Nina, farmers were expected to plant early and the main harvesting could start in August or September.

"We are still aiming to cut rice imports this year to 1.6 million tonnes from 1.8 million tonnes in 2005," Tan said.

The NFA, the rice importing arm of the government, has so far bought 924,375 tonnes of rice since the start of the year.