THE National Food Authority (NFA) said 258,854.80 metric tons (MT) or about 53.77% of the 500,000 MT of rice contracted for import has arrived in the Philippines as of Jan. 29.
About 123,905 MT has been unloaded in various ports, the NFA said, and the shipments have been received by the agency’s warehouses.
About 235,140.20 MT of rice are still scheduled to arrive, with 81,728 MT still in transit, while 141,967.20 MT are loading.
The ports due to receive shipments are Manila, La Union, Subic, Batangas, Tabaco, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos, and Surigao.
The 500,000 MT of rice forms part of the total 750,000 MT in rice imports conducted by the NFA before it loses its role as the main importer of rice, prior to the implementation of the rice tariffication bill. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
