Rice supply enough for coming months, says Agriculture Dept. exec

The country has enough supply of rice to last for the coming months given the previous harvest and the shipments from other countries, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

According to DA Undersecretary Leocaldo Sebastian, the country currently has some 7.6 million metric tons (MT) of rice — 5.7 million MT produced during the dry season, and 1.9 million MT from imports.

“Pagsamasamahin mo ‘yun, sapat na sapat ‘yung ating pangangailangan hanggang sa mga susunod na buwan,” he said during the televised public briefing.

“Nasa kasagsagan na rin tayo ng pagtatanim at nage-expect tayo na nitong August meron na ring mga magha-harvest, September marami nang magha-harvest, so mayroon naman tayong sapat na supply ng bigas,” he added.

(Combine that, and that is enough for our needs until the coming months… We are also in the midst of planting and we expect that there will be a harvest in August, and a lot in September, so we have enough supplies of rice.)

This comes after reports indicated that the rice stockpile of the National Food Authority (NFA) of 60,819.95 MT is seen to last only for two days based on the daily consumption rate of 679,670 bags or 33,983.5 MT.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the NFA’s share to the country’s total rice stock — registered at 1.41 million MT as of end-March — is only 7.3%.

To recall, the NFA’s mandate was reduced to focus solely on ensuring the sufficient supply of buffer stocks in the country from previously regulating the rice sector. It was also previously the only agency allowed to import rice into the country, which was changed by the Rice Tariffication Law.

“Ngayon kasi, ang role nila ay para sa kwan na lang eh, in case of emergency, doon kumukuha ang pamahalaan ng bigas na pinamimigay ‘pag may mga bagyo, mga ganyan, mga sakuna,” Sebastian said.

“‘Yun ay talagang maliit na ‘yung mine-mention ngayon ng NFA. Hindi na rin sila kailangan mag-maintain ng napakalaki dahil hindi naman na kagaya noon na sila lang ‘yung allowed na mag-import ng bigas,” he added.

(Their current role is for cases of emergency, as the government sources from them during typhoons, calamities. What the NFA is mentioning is really small as they do not need to maintain a big stock because it is unlike previously when they were the only ones allowed to import rice.)

Rice importation

For its part, the DA said it is eyeing to import another 1.3 million MT of rice, with President and concurrent Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. set to have discussions with the private sector regarding the situation.

At a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, DA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said the agency would still schedule the planned importation of rice.

"Mayroon kaming ini-schedule. We will be scheduling the importation. We have already, you know… remember nasa sanitary, phytosanitary, hindi ba. We have already something like 1.3 volume of applications that are already pending there," Sombilla said.

(We are scheduling it. We will be scheduling the importation. We have already, you know... remember the sanitary, phytosanitary [permits are being processed].

"So, what we are going to be doing is to really encourage the private sector to get this [unclear] ‘no. I think the President will really have to do some discussions/consultations with the private sector so that, you know, for them to help us. I think we really need the help of the private sector in situations like these," she added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News