MANILA, Philippines — More than 500,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice will arrive in the country from this month until early next year, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Roger Navarro said on Wednesday.

Navarro said 76,000 MT of rice from Taiwan and India will arrive this month until January next year “to boost inventory of the national food staple in preparation for the adverse effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon.” 

“We received reports that around 100,000 tons of imported rice has arrived in the country. This is part of the 495,000 metric tons committed by import permit holders to Secretary Tiu Laurel,” Navarro said in a statement. 

He added that the country had already received 20,000 bags or 1,000 MT of rice before Christmas day from Taiwan, while the remaining 75,000 MT will arrive from India by the end of this month until early next year. 

Navarro explained that the 75,000 MT is also part of the 295,000 MT of rice India has allocated for the Philippines after the former approved the export of over 1 million MT of the commodity to seven countries.

According to Navarro, the imported rice will help the country “have sufficient supply of the national food staple until the next harvest which starts in March,” as he pointed out that the national rice consumption is around 36,000 MT per day or 1.08 million tons per month.

Published Date: December 27, 2023