Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, in an interview after the bilateral meeting, said Thailand did not mention the volume unlike Vietnam when it immediately agreed to 1.5 metric tons (MTs).
Yap said Thailand who has already provided the Philippines 500,000 MTs for this year is always present every time the Philippine government conducts a tender.
"Today, the difference is, the Prime Minister of Thailand said 'he comes to the Philippines extending the hand of friendship, saying in the spirit of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) unity and brotherhood' he said that should the Philippines need rice, Thailand would be wiling to supply. At what volumes to be discussed, at what price to be negotiated," he said.
He said the Philippines did not ask for anything specific but thanked them for their gracious offer. He said the President also thanked Samak.
The agriculture chief said he and his counterpart would still discuss the details, adding that they are open to a government-to-government transaction or to allow private sector to supply the Philippines, depending on the type of crops that the country would ask.
Samak told the meeting that if the Philippines prefers the new crops, which they are to harvest in a few months, the private sector could provide supply. Or if the Philippines prefers the old crops, according to the foreign leader, they still have remaining supply from their old stock, or the Philippines could have a combination of the old and new crops.
Yap said aside from the issue of rice supply, Arroyo and Samak also discussed Asean-related matters as Thailand prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship in July.
These include possible air cooperation among Asean countries, to improve the tourism industries of the Asean countries particularly the Philippines and Thailand.
Arroyo, in offering a toast for Samak, thanked the Prime Minster and said "it's a wise idea to share the Thai tourism market with Asean which means more package tours."
She also acknowledged proposals to have a common visa for Asean to further boost the tourism industry.
Samak, during his toast, said he is looking forward to the blossoming diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and Thailand. He is also looking forward to Thailand's assumption of the Asean chairmanship in two months.
Samak, who arrived in Manila Thursday afternoon, is in his two-day Manila visit, which is part of his traditional visit to all Asean capitals. He is set to drop by the Guadalupe market Friday morning before he concludes his visit.
The 73-year-old Samak was elected the 25th prime minister of Thailand last January, following the victory of his party (the Prachachon or People Power Party or PPP) in the December 23, 2007 general elections.
In his three decades in politics, he had been deputy prime minister three times, minister of transportation twice, interior minister and deputy agriculture minister.
He is also considered a celebrity chef in Thailand, having hosted a popular cooking show called "Tasting, Grumbling." (JMR/Sunnex)
