Sunday, May 04, 2008 Palace brushes off reports Vietnam won't sell rice to RP
MALACAÑANG on Saturday belittled reports that Vietnam will not export rice to the Philippines and will not take part in the Philippine tender on May 5.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the Philippines already had a commitment from Vietnam, but quickly added that the country is fast meeting its requirements anyway.
"Ang pagkakaalam ko yung ating dapat requirement natin ay may commitment ang mga kinausap natin. In terms of meeting the deficiencies covered tayo doon, we have nothing to worry about (All the countries we talked to already have given us a commitment. As for meeting our deficiencies I think we've got it covered. We have nothing to worry about)," he said on government-run dzRB radio.
On the other hand, Bunye dared former President Joseph Estrada to back with evidence his claims that there were kickbacks of up to P10 billion in the government's importation of rice.
He said the government's thrust now is to increase production and put food on the table.
"Hindi ko alam ang base ni Ginoong Estrada sa pagbigay ng ganitong statement. Ang masasabi natin ang pamahalaan ngayon is very serious in putting food on the table (I do not know what Estrada's basis is for making such a statement. But the government is very serious in putting food on the table)," he said.
Only last Friday, he said the government bared a plan to increase production, involving inputs ranging from fertilizer to production techniques to post-harvest facilities.
"We believe this program will be successful," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
