More cheap imported rice available soon

MANILA, Philippines — The government expects more cheap imported rice to reach the general public.

In a joint briefing of concerned agencies on Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law, the government released the guidelines on the entry of milled rice into the country.

“This is very much faster than what we experienced when NFA (National Food Authority) was the one providing for the clearances to importers,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) assistant secretary Mercedita Sombilla said yesterday.

The process is seen to take  only take less than a month or a maximum of 28 days.

This will already include the registration with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry, processing of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) application and the processing with the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the previous process took awhile because  NFA had a tedious process and there was no assurance that a trader would be allowed to import.

“Now the main permit needed will come from DA-BPI and then the rest will be on the usual importation process. Hopefully, imported rice will be there in less than a month,” he said.

Prior to the liberalization, the NFA used to import via government-to-private or the open tender and the much faster government-to-government scheme.

“For one, the G2G is supposed to be fast or just about a month but I never experienced that,” Sombilla said.

Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said the law providing for the ease of doing business would harmonize the whole process, from accreditation to importation.

Lopez assured there would be no over importation of the commodity as the importers would be on the losing end once prices further decline due to oversupply.

The Department of Trade and Industry is likewise optimistic there will be more rice available at a price of P32 per kilogram.