As much as 3.48 million metric tons (MT) of imported rice have arrived in the country as of Dec. 28, 2023, data from the Bureau of Plant Industry’s National Plant Quarantine Services Division showed.
The volume is 9 percent lower compared to the 3.83 million MT recorded in full year 2022.
Vietnam remains the top supplier of rice imports at 2.94 million MT or 84 percent of all arrivals for the period.
In 2022, Vietnam supplied the Philippines with 3.18 million MT equivalent to 83 percent of all imported rice that arrived in the country for the year.
Other top suppliers of imported rice to the Philippines last year are: Myanmar, 244,738.18 MT, 6.4 percent; Pakistan, 198,912.68 MT, 5.2 percent and; Thailand, 183,230.38 MT, 4.79 percent.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said 495,000 MT of rice imported by the private sector were due to arrive between December 2023 and early February 2024 in compliance with the agreement between Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and holders of import permits.
The DA said 76,000 MT of rice from Taiwan and India are also scheduled to arrive until this month.
National rice consumption is around 36,000 MT per day or around 1.08 million MT per month.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, the price as of yesterday of local well-milled rice was P40 to P55 per kg and regular milled, P50 to P53 per kg.
The price of imported well milled rice was at P51 to P56 per kg.
Imported rice ranges from P58 to P65 for the special variety and P54 to P62 for premium.
For local rice, the special variety costs P54 to P68 per kg and premium, P50 to P62 per kg.
Meanwhile, DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the agency will consult with stakeholders on whether or not a suggested retail price on rice should be imposed.
Laurel issued earlier this week a series of special orders reassigning certain key DA officials which he said will “better harness their talents and vast experience.”
Senior Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian will now serve as adviser to Laurel.
Sebastian will relinquish his multiple roles including as undersecretary for the rice industry development program, which allowed him to head the steering committee of the rice competitiveness enhancement fund program; a seat in the board of the Philippine Rice Research Institute; participation in the National Food Authority Council; and as a trustee in the boards of the National Irrigation Administration and the International Rice Research Institute.
DA director U-Nichols Manalo was named director of the national rice program, a position that he will hold concurrent to his position as director IV and officer-in-charge-director of field operations service and director of the national corn program.
De Mesa was also designated as full-time spokesman of the DA.
Officer-in-charge (OIC) undersecretary for operations Roger Navarro will also act as OIC-undersecretary for rice industry development program, OIC-national project director of the Philippine rural development project and OIC-assistant secretary for operations.
Undersecretary for fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate was named undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations in a concurrent capacity while undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla was assigned to oversee operations and coordinate programs of the DA bureaus.
Chief administrative officer and OIC-director for financial and management service Thelma Tolentino was appointed in current capacity as undersecretary-designate for finance as undersecretary Agnes Catherine Miranda was tasked to supervise, oversee operations and coordinate programs of DA attached agencies and corporations.
Laurel also created a team that will address concerns and requests and facilitate submissions of the DA to the Office of the President-Presidential Management Staff.
Laurel said further changes in the DA leadership will have to be made given the temporary nature of certain appointments and the additional work load placed on the shoulder of certain officials.
