with J. Macapagal
THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is seeking President Duterte’s approval to start the purchase arrangement of some 300,000 metric tons of rice under a government-to-government arrangement, according to its head Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
Nograles said yesterday the Department of Agriculture and other agencies were now reaching out to Southeast Asian suppliers to negotiate for a deal.
Under current government rules, the Philippine International Trading Corp. which is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, is in charge of importing rice to boost state stockpiles.
The planned importation comes at a time when Vietnam, the country’s biggest source of rice imports, suspended new rice export contracts while undertaking a review of its stockpiles to ensure sufficient supply for domestic use.
But traders said Monday Vietnam was expected to suspend to lift the suspension this week.
Meanwhile, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has called on the government anew to improve its food security response amid the warning issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of a looming food crisis as countries impose national measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The FAO has been calling on countries not to restrict the flow of food around the world; but the reality is that countries are closing borders and free trade deals are being bypassed through protectionist policies that will ensure food security for their people and their respective local markets,” said Rosendo So, SINAG president.
So said FAO expects is expecting for disruptions beginning this month and May as both Vietnam and Cambodia have restricted rice imports while Kazakhstan has banned exports of wheat flour and imposed restrictions on buckwheat, onions, carrots and potatoes with Russia also threatening to restrict wheat imports.
“We might be the only country left with a mindset believing in unlimited importations. The response of our economic managers to Vietnam’s export ban is regrettably, but expectedly, to import an additional 300,000 MT of imported rice,” So added.
SINAG said money for the importation should instead fund programs that can improve farmlands and post-harvest facilities as well as the provisions of farm inputs and increased support price for local palay.
