MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday allayed fears of possible rice shortage, saying 325,000 metric tons will arrive soon to beef up the National Food Authority (NFA) rice supply.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco had told him there was no reason to push for standby authority to import additional 250,000 metric tons since 325,000 metric tons of rice would arrive within the month.
“So why should we import? There is more than enough of rice on its way to beef up the stock,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
He said the inter-agency National Food Authority Council, chaired by Evasco, was the one that determines whether there was rice shortage.
“He (Evasco) clarified that the procedure is not only (for) the council to approve, they must also consult the Food Security Council to determine if there’s really a shortage. And there hasn’t been a shortage,” Roque said.
Roque expects the 325,000 metric tons of rice to bring down the prices of commercial rice.
Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte had his full trust and confidence on Evasco that the Cabinet Secretary, who had supervision over NFA, could address the problem of NFA rice supply.
“He (Duterte) trusts that Evasco would do his best,” Roque said.
He said Evasco’s stand on the NFA rice supply was corroborated by Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture chairperson Cynthia Villar “that there is no shortage of rice but there is scenario to justify importation.” (Jelly Musico/PNA)
