Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has called on the Philippine Ports Authority to expedite the movement of nearly a thousand container vans filled with imported rice, many of which have been sitting in Manila ports for months.

According to PPA estimates, there are more than 888 shipping vans contain approximately 20 million kilograms  of rice now in the container yards of Manila ports. On Thursday, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago led media during the inspection of the container vans. He told reporters that consignees might be deliberately delaying the withdrawal of imported rice in anticipation of higher market prices.

“We are thankful that the PPA has acted promptly on the information we provided and recognized the potential issue of hoarding of imported rice in Manila ports,” said Sec. Tiu Laurel.  He added, “We respectfully urge the PPA to prioritize the movement of these rice stocks to help increase supply for this essential food staple and potentially lower retail prices.”

The delay in releasing the imported rice has raised concerns over food security, especially as the country faces ongoing inflation pressures.  By facilitating the swift movement of these goods, the government aims to stabilize rice prices and ensure that consumers have access to affordable food options. ###