Wednesday, September 12, 2007
RP to import rice from Thailand, Vietnam (6:00 p.m.)
THE National Food Authority (NFA) will spend around P4.33 billion for the importation of 260,000 metric tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam, NFA deputy administrator Ludovico Jarina said.
Jarina said seven suppliers from Thailand and one from Vietnam won the bidding last September 7.
He said most of the imports would come from the Thai supplier, which tendered a bid of US$343 per metric ton, including freight and cost of the commodity.
The importation was meant to ensure that there is enough rice supply, particularly in Luzon where the harvest has been delayed by a month due to the dry spell.
The NFA has increased by 25-50 percent its rice deliveries to soften the impact of the high prices of commercial rice which rose to P26-P27 per kilo two weeks ago, prompting the NFA to immediately increase deliveries of NFA rice to its outlets. (JMR/Sunnex) |
