Pag-uusap at konsultasyon sa pribadong sektor, kailangan para sa importasyon ng bigas-DA

INAMIN ni Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec. Mercedita Sombilla na kailangan na magkaroon ng pag-uusap at konsultasyon sa pribadong sektor para sa gagawing importasyon ng bigas.

Sa press briefing sa Malakanyang, sinabi ni Sombilla na “I think the President will really have to do some consultations with the private sector so that, you know, for them to help us. I think we really need the help of the private sector in situations like these.”

Sinabi ni Sombilla na mayroon silang iniskedyul o nag-iskedyul na sila ng importasyon ng bigas.

“We have already, you know… remember nasa sanitary, phytosanitary hindi ba. We have already something like 1.3 volume of applications that are already pending there. So, what we are going to be doing is to really encourage the private sector to get this,” ani Sombilla.

Wala namang maibigay na eksaktong petsa si Sombilla sa kung kailan isasagawa ang importasyon ng nasabing produkto.

“But you know, those are the things… iyon ang mga measures that we are putting in place, you know, to really mitigate the impact of these events,” aniya pa rin sabay sabay sabing “metric tons, yeah. Iyon ‘yung SPA-SIC ha, application. But as you know, hindi lahat iyon pumupunta that’s why we have to encourage the private sector to really, you know, get all these…”

Sa kabilang dako, wala namang ideya si Sombilla kung dalawang na lamang ang buffer stock ng NFA.

Ayon kasi sa Rice Tariffication Law ay 9 days dapat ito.

“Well, I have to check on how the calculations was done, you know. Hindi ko alam kung iyong two days diyan is across the nation. You remember that NFA is only for emergency. So iyon ang hindi ko maano… I will have to talk, to discuss with them how they are coming up with that two days,” anito.

“But of course, really, their stocks really is very low. They will really need to beef up their stocks and there are some ways by which, you know, we have identified also for them to, you know, to help them beef up their stocks – and one of them is contract growing… yeah, one of them is contract growing ‘no so that ano na… targeted na kung—I mean, mayroon na silang pagkukuhanan ng buffer stocks nila, “ aniya pa rin sabay sabing “The mechanics of it, we’ll be discussing it but I think, you know, it’s already more or less in place. I think we’re going to be starting it, you know… kahit ngayon na, I think they have already talked with the national rice program na mayroon na silang kinakausap na mga cooperatives at saka mga groups of rice na, you know, all their produce will go to NFA.” (Daris Jose)