Philippines to import additional rice from Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government will import additional 200 metric tons of rice from Vietnam to replenish buffer stock of the state-run National Food Authority ( NFA), a senior government official said Thursday.

Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan said this was one of those agreed upon when President Benigno S. Aquino III met on Thursday some of his Cabinet officials to discuss the sudden spike of commodity prices, such as rice and garlic.

The government has initially imported 800,000 MT of rice abroad.

The NFA, Department of Finance and Bureau of Customs will also work on NFA acquisition of 20,000 MT of seized smuggled rice, he said.

During the meeting, Aquino also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) through the Department of Justice to look into reported hoarding, profiteering and cartel-like activities of food items.

"The directive came after it was determined that there is sufficient supply of rice, garlic and other basic food items," said Herminio Coloma Jr., Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary.