By Tracy Cabrera
WITH imported Pakistani rice set to enter the country follow the lifting of rice imports, the Department of Agriculture (DA) issued its commitment to protect producers that there will be no “over-importation” of rice despite the government’s widening trade engagements with other rice-producing countries.
Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., issued the assurance following a high-level meeting that ended with the Philippines opening its doors to rice imports from Pakistan.
According to Tiu Laurel the country’s importation will be “calibrated” based on the local supply gaps that have been projected after the latest palay (unhusked grain) and rice harvests.
“The Philippines welcomes Pakistani rice, but we will limit imports strictly to what the country needs. We will not over-import; food security comes first,” the agri chief noted.
He reiterated that self-sufficiency remains a priority of the Marcos Jr. administration as this is now being enhanced by the agency’s efforts through local production support, actions to address weather disruptions, rising demand and structural challenges in palay (unhusked rice) production in the country.
It was learned that prior meeting with local authorities, the Pakistani government had made the proposal to the DA due to its surplus rice production. Pakistan’s request came at the time of the DA’s review on diversification of sources for imported rice to prevent “overdependence” on a single supplier.
Still, Tiu Laurel asserted that imported rice will remain a “supplement and not a substitute” for local produce.
“The move aims to demonstrate the government’s efforts to expand international trade and help achieve food security with its counterparts. This is about widening our engagement with countries that are not necessarily our near neighbors, in the spirit of world trade and cooperation,” he cited.
As an exchange in the importation deal, the he disclosed that the Pakistani government, for its part, signified it’s interest in importing goods from the Philippines, like coconuts, seaweeds, fish and other agricultural commodities.
