PHL to import 500,000 MT rice in 2012

The Philippines government will go ahead with the rice import volume of 500,000 metric tons (MT) for the private sector, with the bidding scheduled next month.   Half of the volume will go to rice traders and the other 250,000 MT to farmer cooperatives.   “We stood by our initial estimate of 500,000 metric tons. The National Food Authority will prepare all the documentary requirements for the bidding, which may be conducted by January next year, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters in briefing Tuesday.   According to the NFA, the volume was a result of a consensus by the members of the Food Council headed by Alcala.   “The Council used the lower annual per capital consumption of 113.4 kilos to compute the volume. Although the recommendation of the inter-agency committee on rice and corn was a range between 1 million and 1.4 million MT,” the NFA said.   The council will meet next February to assess the supply situation, “since this will be the season wherein the quick turn-around harvest will come in.”   Government is trying to get out of the equation since the private sector is capable of bringing in imported rice, said Alcala.   The quick turn-around scheme will generate enough rice to fill the production deficit next year, said Alcala.   The Philippine imported 860,000 MT last year from a record 2.4 million MT in 2009.   Because recent typhoons have destroyed some standing rice crops, the Agriculture Department has scaled down its rice output forecast to 16.68 million MT from 17.4 million MT.   Paddy rice output for July to December may drop 0.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, saying unmilled rice production in the second semester of 2011 is estimated at 9.1 million MT.   From October to December — the main harvest months —government expects palay outs at 5.93 million MT, down 8.8 percent 6.5 million MT. The estimate is based on current crops still standing. The Agriculture Department expects farm output to reach 19.8 million MT for the whole of 2012. — VS, GMA News