MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has publicly praised the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for its effective intervention against potential hoarding of imported rice, highlighting the agency’s rapid response to safeguard the country’s food security.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa commended the PPA during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing for their proactive measures following a tip from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. Secretary Laurel had previously reported the concerning buildup of at least 888 shipping containers of imported rice, totaling over 20,000 metric tons, at Manila ports, with some containers idling for as long as nine months.
De Mesa suggested that the extended storage by consignees appeared to be a strategy to manipulate market prices by creating artificial scarcity, thereby increasing profit margins. He emphasized that such actions, aimed at waiting for rice prices to rise, are unethical and potentially constitute hoarding.
The PPA has confirmed that there is no congestion at the ports, with yard utilization at 70 percent and the average dwell time for containers at just 5.4 days. The authority has already cleared approximately 700 containers for release to consignees. Furthermore, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is set to inspect the containers to assess the quality of the rice and ensure it meets food safety standards.
Amidst these developments, Secretary Tiu Laurel has urged the PPA to prioritize the release of these rice shipments to prevent potential price spikes and help stabilize the supply of this crucial staple. Current price ranges for imported well-milled rice in Metro Manila are between PHP45 to PHP55 per kilogram, with slightly lower prices for regular-milled rice, underscoring the necessity of maintaining a steady flow of rice into the market.