Philippines plans to increase rice imports to ensure domestic supply
The Philippine government is seeking to import 300,000 tonnes of rice to ensure sufficient domestic supply as the country is trying to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on March 31.
A Filipino farmer scoops rice grains in the country's Cagayan province (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippine government is seeking to import 300,000 tonnes of rice to ensure sufficient domestic supply as the country is trying to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cabinet🍷 Secretary Karlo Nograles on March 31
The Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases has got President Rodrigo Duterte's approval for a government-to-government rice purchase arrangement, he added.
The Department of Agriculture and other government agencies has been reaching out to Southeast Asian rice suppliers to negotiate for a deal.
The Philippines became the world's biggest rice importer in 2019 with purchases estimated at a record of 2.9 million tonnes. It usually purchases rice from Vietnam and a certain amount from Thailand.
Global food security concerns are mounting as some governments contemplate restricting 🌠the flow of stapl♏e foods to fight the widening COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodia will also ban some rice exports to ensure local food security amid complicated developments of the disease./.
The Philippines will retain its status as the world’s biggest rice importer in 2020, according to the US Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural service (USDA-FAS).
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President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte on March 30 announced that his government will launch a social relief package worth 200 billion peso (3.9 billion USD) to assist low-income households and industries seriously affected by the strict preventive measures against COVID-19.
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Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
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A Filipino farmer scoops rice grains in the country's Cagayan province (Photo: AFP) 
