RP to import more rice<\/p>\n
MANILA (UPI): The Philippines may import more rice if an
\nexpected delivery of 220,000 metric tons of the crop from
\nVietnam, Thailand, China and India fail to fill a foreseen
\nshortage in the coming months.<\/p>\n
\"I have given the stand-by authority to the Department of
\nAgriculture to import 500,000 metric tons (of rice) just in
\ncase,\" President Fidel Ramos said in an interview.<\/p>\n
The Agriculture Department earlier announced it would import
\n220,000 metric tons of rice to prevent a shortage in supply and
\nthe spiraling of prices.<\/p>\n
Agriculture officials said Ramos' directive allows them to
\nimport another 280,000 metric tons of rice within the year. But
\nthey would \"have to wait and see\" if there would be a need to
\naugment imports.<\/p>\n
The National Food Authority, the government agency that
\nmonitors prices of basic commodities, said an initial batch of
\n40,000 metric tons of rice will be shipped from China later this
\nmonth. Some 130,000 metric tons of rice is expected from Thailand
\nand Vietnam.<\/p>\n
NFA Deputy Administrator Gregorio Tan said the remaining
\n50,000 metric tons of rice will most likely come from India. Tan
\nsaid Manila would purchase the rice at a range of US$285 to $320
\nper metric ton.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-to-import-more-rice-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}