Vietnam assures Phl of enough rice supply

SINGAPORE – Vietnam has assured the Philippines of ample rice supply in the face of apparent shortage of the staple.

The issue was discussed during the bilateral talks between President Duterte and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here last Friday afternoon on the sidelines of the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Summit that ended yesterday.

Vietnam’s offer came after the Duterte administration allowed the importation of rice to augment dwindling supply.

Duterte has also removed the quota for rice imports, so private traders could now buy more from other countries.

The President pointed out that a rice shortage could be avoided if the country has enough supply of the staple in its inventory.

“I was mad because the inventory was either half full or half empty. I said, guys, I want to see rice up there, touching the ceiling of this warehouse,” the President said during a gathering of Free and Accepted Masons in Davao City before leaving for the ASEAN Summit last Thursday.

“To the traders and the businesses, I have done away with the quota. You can import rice, all of you. No more paperwork and if there is somebody from (National Food Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs) who would be asking money from you, slap him,” the President added.

Duterte and Phuc are among the 10 ASEAN leaders who were here for the summit, which Singapore chairs this year.

“The President and the Vietnamese Prime Minister discussed the purchase of rice. Vietnam reiterated its willingness to supply quality rice to the Philippines,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing last Friday night here at the International Media Center.

Roque said Vietnam has assured the Philippines not only of quality rice, but that it would be sold at a reasonable price and that there would be enough supply.

However, Roque said there was no discussion on the volume of rice that the Philippines would purchase from Vietnam.

Roque added that the matter on Vietnamese fishermen caught in Philippine territorial waters was also discussed, but it was not a big deal as far as Duterte was concerned.

Phuc even thanked Duterte for personally sending off the last batch of Vietnamese fishermen.

Security is a topic that Duterte and Phuc may discuss in the future.