'No fake rice, just fake news', rice traders say

NO FAKES: There is no fake rice, just fake news, rice retailers said in a press briefing on Friday.

"There is no such thing as fake rice, only fake news. There is no actual fake rice discovered mula 2015 hanggang ngayon ," James Magbanua, national president of the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON), said in a press conference.

The National Food Authority backed the group's claim that no fake rice managed to enter the Philippine market.

"A total of 6 rice samples were subjected to analysis...the result of all samples are totoong rice, there is no fake rice," NFA administrator Jason Aquino said.

Magbanua said there is no incentive for rice producers and retailers to sell fake rice as "it is costlier to produce fake rice by putting plastic additives."

He said the hoax was made to take advantage of rice retailers.

"Merong bumibili ng isang kilo lang pero ibabalik dahil fake rice daw ito. Pinipilit na palitan ang fake rice ng isang kaban kung hindi irereport daw sa gobyerno. Kinikikilan lang kami," Magbanua said.

The group urged the public to be more discerning before believing articles they read online.

The group also called on lawmakers to pass measures that will penalize those who generate and share false and unverified information.

"It is time to consider a legislative measure against those who create fake news, especially news that affect our economy."

On Thursday, a bill that seeks to penalize any person or group who maliciously spreads false news or information in traditional and online media platforms was filed at the Senate.

Under Senate Bill 1492 any person proven guilty of creating or distributing fake news will face a fine ranging from P100,000 to P5 million and 1 to 5 years of imprisonment.

Violators who have aided and encouraged fake news meanwhile will be fined P50,000 to P3 million and imprisoned from 6 months to 3 years.

If the offender is a public official, he will be made to pay twice the amount of fine and serve twice the period of imprisonment. He will also be disqualified from holding any public office.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Vietnam, Thailand win NFA bid to supply 500,000-MT rice

MANILA, Philippines - Vietnam yesterday won the majority share of the 500,000 metric tons (MT) of the programmed importation for buffer stocking this year after agreeing to match Thailand’s price offer to be able supply the balance of the requirement.

The National Food Authority’s (NFA) government-to-government procurement committee yesterday awarded the supply of a total of 300,000 MT to Vietnam Southern Food Corp., while the supply of a total of 200,000 MT was awarded to Thailand, which was represented by its Department of Foreign Trade.

The NFA yesterday received offers for the procurement of 250,000 MT of well-milled, long grain white rice at 25 percent brokens and 250,000 MT at 15 percent brokens.

The rice stock would be used for the country’s mandatory buffer stocking requirement for the lean season that starts in July. The government is required to maintain a buffer stock of at least 30 days—but ideally 90 days—for use during the lean season.

The total volume would be purchased through government-to-government procurement deals with countries that have procurement agreements with the Philippines like Thailand and Vietnam that submitted offers yesterday.

Cambodia, which also has a rice supply agreement with the Philippines, did not submit offers.

The NFA Council is set to award the supply of 100,000 MT to Thailand for 15 percent brokens and 150,000 MT to Vietnam. Thailand offered $441 per MT against the government’s budget of $442.9 per MT. To be able to supply the balance, Vietnam lowered its first offer of $442.5 per MT to march Thailand’s offer.

The council is also set to award the supply of 100,000 MT to Thailand for 25 percent brokens and 150,000 MT to Vietnam. Thailand offered $421 per MT against the government’s budget of $425.85 per MT. To supply the balance, Vietnam likewise lowered its first offer of $424.50 to match Thailand’s offer.

Half of the total importation volume should be delivered to the Philippines not later than March 31, 2015, while the other half should be delivered not later than April 30, 2015.

The NFA Council is set to approve the award on March 2 and should issue the notice of award not later than March 3, said procurement committee chairman Piolito Santos.

The winning bidders should be able to sign the contract between March 4 to March 10, after which, they would be able to proceed with the delivery.

Malou De Leon, marketing officer of the commercial affairs of the Royal Thai Embassy, said Thailand is not able to supply a larger volume because of supply commitments to other countries.

Under the terms of reference, the next best bidder may match the offer of the best bidder to supply the balance of the volume of the former unable to do so.

Read more on the Philippine Star

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rice quota stays even after June 30 - NFA

MANILA – The National Food Authority on Friday said it will not issue import permits for rice in excess of the Philippines’ minimum access volume, even though the quota for the staple ends on June 30.

Angelito Banayo, administrator of state-run NFA, told reporters that the agency will observe the MAV pending the results of negotiations with other countries opposed to an extension of the Philippines’ quantitative restriction on rice.

“We will not accept any application that is outside MAV. We’ll see if there will be a reaction from the exporting country,” Banayo said.

“Any attempts, if ever, to ship cheaper rice outside the allowed volume, they will still have to pay the higher tariff rate,” he said.

MAV is the minimum volume of rice allowed to enter the Philippines at reduced tariffs.

The country’s MAV is set at 350,000 metric tons, which is slapped an import duty of 40 percent.

Banayo said rice-exporting countries may appeal the Philippines’ quantitative restriction before the World Trade Organization, adding that the government will have to wait for a decision from the global trading body.

“This will test how the WTO decides on the issue,” he said.

The Philippines has asked other Asean member-countries as well as other major trade partners for the retention of the QR on rice, citing the need to prepare Filipino farmers for international competition and the government’s goal of rice self-sufficiency.

An extension of the QR will allow the Philippines to limit the volume of rice imports, preventing the influx of cheap rice from other countries.

The government is asking for a five-year extension, but like Korea, may get a three-year extension.

As in previous bids to extend the rice QR, Manila has offered other rice-producing countries certain trade concessions, such as greater access to the Philippine market of other products.

China, India and Pakistan earlier objected to the Philippine bid for an extension of the rice QR.

source: interaksyon.com