Manila, March 31 -- Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday sought to calm concerns over a potential food price spike, saying extreme projections tied to surging oil prices are unlikely and do not reflect planned government interventions.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture (DA) chief said scenarios presented to the Senate - assuming crude oil prices averaging USD200 per barrel for six months - were based on "extreme assumptions" and excluded mitigating measures.

"The prices presented assumed the full impact of soaring crude," Tiu Laurel said. "They did not factor in government action, which we will undertake to protect Filipinos from an oil shock."

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