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MANILA -- There is a “big possibility” the rice import ban will be extended until the end of the year, which is also the extension period requested by rice millers, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

In a meeting with the president last Friday, they decided on possibly extending the ban for at least 30 days, but this could last longer, Tiu Laurel added.

“There’s a big possibility na it will be extended until end of this year. Nakausap ko rin last week ‘yung ating mga rice millers natin, traders local rice– they are actually requesting for the import ban to be extended until the end of this year,” Tiu Laurel told the media.

“I met with the president last week, last Friday. And napagdesisyunan na maaaring i-extend ng minimum of 30 days ‘yung ating import ban. It is possible na hanggang end of the year pa ‘yan depending sa sitwasyon," he said.

"Ang problema kasi bumagsak na naman ang presyo ng palay. Pati nga si Speaker Bojie Dy at si Governor Albano tumawag na sa amin last week pa and may mga steps tayo ngayon na maaprubahan na ni presidente," he added.

"At maglalabas tayo ng EO na ipagbabawal ‘yung pagbili ng government LGUs and other government offices ng imported rice… There’s a big possibility na iakyat na ‘yung taripa ulit pagkatapos ng import ban,” Tiu Laurel,” Tiu Laurel said.

PRICE FREEZE ORDER TO BE ISSUED TODAY

An order for a price freeze in Eastern Samar and Masbate will be issued today due to the impact of Typhoon Opong, Tiu Laurel said. The DA will also sell rice for P20 per kilogram for one month in the aforementioned areas as a way of providing help.

Tiu Laurel said agricultural damage due to the typhoon is less than P1 billion pesos.

“Sa ngayon ang total namin– it’s less than a billion total damage. In the whole scheme of things, ‘di naman ganoon kalaki. Kagaya sa Eastern Samar, wala naman masyadong agriculture. Sa Masbate tinamaan talaga,” Tiu Laurel told reporters.

 The agency is also set to report the presence of a “ghost” project for farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental.

“‘Yung initial report sa akin, may nakita kaming “ghost” in Davao Occidental. Pero in 2021, 2022– walang recent pa kaming nakikita. ‘Yun lang. Pero in the whole scheme of things, medyo hindi siya ganoon kalaki in my opinion,” Tiu Laurel said.

Source : msn