NFA says rice imports could prevent food insecurity amid US import plans
MANILA, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) said rice imports could help maintain supplies and prevent food insecurity in the country following reports of plans to import large volumes of rice from the United States.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson clarified on Tuesday, October 13, that the rice importation plans were initiated by a private rice industry stakeholder group and the government has no involvement in the matter.
“Hindi po sa atin dumadaan ang mga permit or whatever niyan. Hindi rin po tayo nag-i-import. So it’s a pure private sector initiative na I don’t know kung magkakatotoo, tingnan natin,” Lacson said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
(We don’t handle the permits or whatever for that. We also don’t import. So it’s a pure private sector initiative, which I don’t know if it comes true.)
Last week, it was reported that the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) and the USA Rice have signed a memorandum of understanding which could reportedly allow rice imports from the US starting 2027.
The signed MOU indicated that PRISM could import 100,000 metric tonnes of bagged and bulk US rice by next year, and could increase to 200,000 metric tonnes yearly starting 2028.
Lacson said they don’t have regulatory powers over such imports.
Filling supply gaps
The NFA said rice imports are still needed in the country to fill supply gaps and prevent food insecurity as local production only covers about 70% to 78% of the country’s rice needs.
“Eh saan po natin kukunin yung ah 30%, ‘ika nga no? Eh saan po natin kukuhanin ‘yon kundi sa pag-aangkat din po. Hindi naman po natin gustong magkaroon ng food insecurity,” Lacson said.
(So where will we get the other 30%? Where else will we get that aside from imports? We also don’t want to have food insecurity.)
The administrator added that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has openly said that the target volume of local production for 2026 is five million metric tonnes, which without importation is not enough for the national buffer stock.
“Pero dahil may importation ang national buffer stock po natin ay nasa 75 days to last,” Lacos said.
(But because there are imports, our national buffer stock could last 75 days.)
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