MANILA - The Philippines, the world's biggest rice importer, will decide later this week if further purchases are needed this year, the agriculture secretary said on Thursday.

"As of now we are comfortable that more than 33 days of national stocks is held by the National Food Authority," Arthur Yap told reporters.

But he said production could be disrupted by 16 more typhoons forecast to hit the country before the end of the year.

"We are making assessments on production and we are making assessments on supply though imports," he said.

The Philippines has spent around $1.54 billion this year buying 2.3 million tons of rice, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand, to fill a gap in local production and increase its stockpile.

Reuters