DA, NFA deny further rice import plans

MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture officials yesterday dispelled rumors that the National Food Authority (NFA)  plans to import 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in the coming months to curtail the influence of a rice cartel that manipulate prices.

National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Orlan A. Calayag yesterday clarified that the government has no plans to import an additional volume of rice for this year, citing that current rice inventories and the incoming bulk of the main harvest are already enough for the country’s requirements.

Calayag made this clarification in response to news reports attributed to an anonymous “industry source,” followed by comments from lawyer Argee Guevarra, insinuating an evil plan to take advantage of the so-called rice shortage and import an additional 100,000 metric tons of rice “to benefit NFA executives.”

 â€œThe NFA is a victim of a malicious rumor. There is no truth to the alleged plan to import. If it were so, then a proposal should already have been submitted to the NFA Council which is the agency’s policymaking body. But there is none. The agency remains steadfast in its position that the country’s supply of rice remains stable,” Calayag said.

The NFA chief explained that if Guevarra had first checked with the NFA, he would have been told that the media reports of an alleged plan to import more rice is a hoax.

The NFA management is assailing the lawyer for imputing fraud on the agency based on rumors. The agency calls the comments made by the lawyer as “irresponsible.”

The NFA argued that it was Guevarra himself who has been forcing the issue of importation by the NFA on the pretext that there is a rice shortage even if supply in the markets has consistently been sufficient.

In a phone interview, NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said there have been no discussions within the NFA council for another government-to-government procurement of rice from either Vietnam or Thailand.

“There are no plans for an additional importation. This has never been discussed,” he said.

Dante Delima, Agriculture undersecretary for field operations and National Rice program coordinator, said there is no need for additional imports for the remainder of the year because supply remains stable, especially now that  the regular harvest season is ongoing.