All rice imports due next month – DA

Late shipments to be returned

- Brix Lelis

About 300,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice must arrive in the Philippines by Feb. 28, as late shipments will be returned to their countries of origin, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

"It (imported rice) needs to arrive on or before the end of February so it does not coincide with the bulk of the harvest in March and April," DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa told reporters yesterday.

De Mesa said the move aims to ensure that the importation would not significantly affect the upcoming local rice harvest, when domestic production peaks.

Any consignments arriving after the deadline would be denied release and sent back to their source country at the importer's expense, he noted.