Duterte orders NFA to import 250,000 tons of rice

By Arjay L. Balinbin

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) Council to pursue the procurement of 250,000 metric tons of rice amid supply shortage reports.

“There is a verbal instruction from the President to activate the 250,000 metric tons of rice on standby,” said Cabinet secretary and NFA council chairman  Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. in a phone patch interview with Palace media on Thursday night, Feb.8.

Adding: “The president said it last night [Feb.7], and I received [the information] this morning.”

Mr. Evasco said he has called a special meeting for the NFA council to discuss the matter “because [the] President does not want to decide on which mode of procurement to be pursued in getting the rice from outside.”

The council’s meeting is scheduled on Monday, Feb. 12, at the Palace, according to the council chairman.

As for the procurement mode, Mr. Evasco pointed out that the government has a number of options. “One is government to government; second option is government to private traders from outside; and third option is we let our traders purchase rice from outside.”

For his part, NFA administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino said in a press briefing that they requested for another 250,000 metric tons of rice (for import) but the council did not act on it.

“We are confident that we have rice,” Mr. Evasco explained, noting that the council expects the arrival of the 325, 000 metric tons of rice acquired through the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.

 “NFA tried to put people in a panic mode. Saying we don’t have rice? We have,” he also said.