The Philippine International Trading Center (PITC) has decided not to push through with its plan to import 300,000 metric tons of rice for the lean months of July and August. The country’s rice buffer stock was initially threatened by the rice exportation ban in Vietnam which is the Philippines’ top source of imported rice.
Data has it that around seven to 14 percent of total rice requirements of the country is imported, and 90 percent of which is from Vietnam.
“The basis of cancelling is that we have enough rice from local production, at pupunuan ‘yan ng importation (and it will be complemented by importation),” Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar disclosed.
“Well, wala na pong rice importation na mangyayari. Sapat po ang ating supply ng bigas…Sapat po ang ating supply ng bigas kaya hindi na itinuloy ang pag-aangkat. (There will no longer be rice importation. We have enough supply of rice…We have enough supply that’s why we need not push through with importation),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The DA has been focusing on the industrialization of the agricultural sector to further improve domestic rice production. Nineteen solar panels have been donated by Weather Philippines Foundation and Aboitiz to the DA. The move will help increase production in urban agriculture, particularly in hydroponics and aquaponics farming for the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila and Davao. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
