Philippines to import 300,000 MT of rice

March 31, 2020

The Philippine government is planning to import 300,000 metric tons of rice as part of contingency measure amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday in a virtual press briefing that the IATF has made the recommendation to import rice to the Office of the President.

This was after the Department of Agriculture proposed “to import a total of 300,000 metric tons of rice by the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) through government-to-government arrangements for contingency purposes.”

In a report to the Congressional Oversight Committee in compliance with Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the Palace said that DA is coordinating with other ASEAN trading partners on the importation of rice.

The national rice inventory this quarter is enough to last in the next 75 days, the report said quoting the DA.

The agriculture department also reported here is sufficient basic food requirements narionwide, such as rice, fish, pork, chicken, and vegetables.

Nograles also said the IATF also affirms the national policy of unhampered movement of cargoes and workers from permitted establishments such as agriculture and food products, and their supply chain. Celerina Monte/DMS