Abad issued the statement even as he clarified that the country is not experiencing a shortage of the commodity as erroneously cited by a news report. Moreover, the government has no definite plans of importing rice, at least for now.
"Although there could be a disparity between local production as against our requirements, we cannot declare there is a shortage," Abad stressed.
Earlier this week, a news item cited Abad saying that a shortage of the staple looms and that imports are underway, Abad clarified he was misquoted as he was speaking in general terms. Neither was he actually declaring a shortage nor suggesting definite plans of the government to bring in rice from other countries.
Abad mentioned that as a matter of fact his agency is not the authority mandated to oversee palay production. Likewise, there is an Inter Agency Committee on Rice and Corn, composed of various government agencies which evaluates the local rice situation and recommends if there is need to import. "NFA only implements government’s plan to import once the Inter-Agency Committee’s recommends for it and the proposal approved by the President," Abad said.
The NFA is the government arm mandated to ensure food security and the stability in the supply and prices of rice in the country.
"We are ever watchful that the government’s rice reserves are sufficient. This way, food security which is one of the priorities of the Arroyo administration if not the primordial, is always ascertained," Abad cited.