PITC to import rice for fast food chains, small supermarkets

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Wednesday said plans are afoot for the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to import rice for fast food chains and small groceries and supermarkets.

The state-run PITC is now pre-screening rice retailers that would benefit from the plan, Lopez told reporters covering the 11th Annual World Rice Conference in Makati City.

“Ang PITC namin is working on importing rice for certain groups, specifically mga fast food chains. Dati ‘yan, umaasa sa trader. Now, because of the liberalization, they can import their requirements aside from sourcing locally,” Lopez said.

A pilot shipment of one container may soon happen.

But in two or three months, when the importation will be fully implemented, the shipments may reach up to 300 containers.

“PITC will just import directly on behalf of the food chains, for example. And even open it to smaller groceries, supermarkets na hindi maka-import on their own. PITC can consolidate, integrate, and import for them so they get volume discount,” Lopez noted.

“PITC will not make money. It’s just a management fee,” he added, noting that this move will help keep rice prices down. —VDS, GMA News