FARMERS’ groups from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao said Friday they feared a shortfall in the supply of rice would occur if the National Food Authority fails to allow the entry of eight million bags of rice from Thailand and Vietnam.
Edwin Paraluman, a member of the Philippine Farmers’ Advisory Board and a member of the NFA Council, said Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino had issued a memorandum saying the arrival period for the rice imports under the minimum access volume program would only take place from October 2016 until Feb. 28 this year.
“We do not see any reason why the NFA would not heed our valid request for an extension,” Paraluman said.
He talked of a possible rice shortage in Metro Manila and elsewhere that would jack up rice prices.
“The farmers’ cooperatives have already paid in advance the 35-percent tariff for every sack of rice [for eight million bags). They have just loaned the amount from various financing institutions,” Paraluman told reporters.
“Assuming the cost of one sack of rice is P1,000, it becomes P1,350 because of the tariff.”
The requesting farmers’ cooperatives could be disqualified or blacklisted if an extension for the entry of the eight million bags was not granted, Paraluman said.
William Saratao, a former NFA Council member and a leader of a farmers’ cooperative in Sultan Kudarat, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to step into their complaint and heed their appeal for an extension of the rice entry period for 40 percent of the remaining 850,000 metric tons of imported rice until March 31.
“Yes, brace for a shortage in the supply of rice three months from now,” he said.
“We do not have enough rice supply. Such importation could boost the buffer stocks of the staple for the lean months.”
The rice importation is backed by a resolution approved by the NFA Council composed of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Economic and Development Authority, the NFA itself, the Department of Finance, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Land Bank of the Philippines and FBAP.
But Paraluman questioned another NFA’s memorandum signed by Aquino allowing the entry of rice from Pakistan and India until March 31.
“The council has not approved the importation, therefore it is illegal,” he said.
Aquino was among the Army officers who were cleared for mutiny charges for the alleged Feb. 2006 coup d’ etat against then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.