No more rice importation this year - Alcala

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will no longer import rice this year as the 860,000 metric tons supply needed by the country has been completed.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said yesterday only less than 500,000 metric tons might have to be imported next year.

Alcala told reporters after the awarding of outstanding farmers and fishermen in Malacañang that the government might no longer push through with the fuel subsidy for these sectors amid the high oil prices.

But the Department of Social Welfare and Development would continue the food-for-work program.

During the awarding rites, President Aquino announced that the government would start using the Geographic Information System, a modern technology for “precision agriculture.” 

Part of the GIS, the President said, would be the establishment of the National Farmers’ Registry System-a census of the farmers and fishermen nationwide that will begin in Quezon, Leyte and Bukidnon.

Aquino said all information about farmers would be gathered, including their crops and the size of the land they are toiling to come up with a more comprehensive program and better services for them.

He explained that those qualified for food-for-work program would be asked to help in cleaning canals and irrigation systems so they would be paid minimum wage.

Alcala said the 860,000 metric tons imported for this year was only one-third of what was imported last year.

“After 2013, we hope to be self-sufficient and we will already be exporting rice.”

He said the country is already poised to export vegetables to Singapore and Japan.

Aquino asked Alcala if the rice sufficiency could be expedited but the agriculture secretary replied that there were still programs and projects that must be done.

Alcala also said the data gathering on the country’s farmers and fishermen is ongoing.

He said all farmers and fishermen would have a complete registry and assistance to them would be more focused and appropriate.

Alcala said fuel and equipment subsidy was no longer being considered because it might cause more problems than solutions given the lack of data on who should receive the assistance.