DA-10, BPI inspect warehouses in NorMin amid rice import suspension

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Following the 60-day rice importation ban effectivity on September 1, the Department of Agriculture-Region 10 (DA-10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) through its Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD), hold a joint inspection and monitoring of dry storage warehouses (DSWs) storing imported rice in Northern Mindanao, today, September 24.

The initiative is part of the nationwide warehouse monitoring effort, which commenced on September 9 and will run until October 30, across various regions in the country.

The inspection was carried out in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to suspend rice importation between September and October of this year, on account of declining palay prices attributed to strong local production and earlier import surges, which have placed the livelihood of about three million rice farmers nationwide at risk.

Among the inspected warehouses in the region were the Soda Trade Corp., in Iligan City and the BLY Agri Venture Trading in Cagayan de Oro City. The monitoring of stock inventories in their warehouses showed remaining stocks from previous shipment brought in last August before the temporary suspension took effect.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that the suspension may be shortened or extended depending on the prevailing price trends and the outcome of the main harvest in the coming months. The DA likewise underscored its readiness to recalibrate policies should supply conditions tighten, while ensuring that both farmers and consumers benefit from fair and stable prices of rice.# (EJLG)