MANILA (Commodity Online): Philippines is likely to grant permission to private firms to import up to 150,000 tons rice apart from its previous allocation of 200,000 tons due to the increased demand, said an official on Monday.
NFA is considering additional quantity of 100,000 to 150,000 tons for private sector importation due to the overwhelming response from them, spokesman for the state-run National Food Authority (NFA).
The rice imports would be free from tariff, and is separate from a government announcement last month that the private sector could ship in 163,000 tonnes rice.

 Nhan Dan – 30 member and non-member enterprises of the Vietnam Food Association have been assigned to buy and store one million tonnes of rice from February 26. These enterprises will get priority in liquidating contracts in order to clear their stocks. It is expected that the enterprises will have bought around 600 tonnes by the end of March, the remaining amount will be bought in April.

 Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai will order the Foreign Trade Department to cancel its latest auction of 500,000 tonnes of rice since the prices quoted were way below the market level even after negotiations to get a better deal, a source said yesterday. "The ministry will consider opening bidding again within a couple of months before the second crop deluges the market in April," the source said.The decision to scrap the bidding will be proposed to the National Rice Policy Committee meeting today.

THE National Food Authority (NFA) in western Pangasinan has assured that there is enough rice in its area of operation despite the threat of long dry spell posed by El Niño phenomenon. Ramon Cuaresma, NFA branch manager in Pangasinan, said it does not yet feel the effect of El Niño because their rice distribution to the different market outlets has not exceeded its actual target of 50,000 bags per month starting in January this year.