MANILA -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned the Vietnam rice industry against challenging the Philippines’ move to suspend all rice importation for 60 days, adding the country may choose to stop buying from Vietnam altogether.
Initially, Tiu Laurel issued the warning to Vietnam during a House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing on Wednesday, August 20.
But he later clarified to the media he meant Vietnam’s local industry.
“I also would like to openly warn Vietnam– please do not try to do this to the Philippines. We have to protect our farmers. We will do what is needed. Under the WTO (World Trade Organization) rules, superior ang national interest… Kung talagang pipilitin nila ‘yan, we’ll find ways. Hindi tayo bibili sa Vietnam. Ganoon kasimple lang ‘yun,” Tiu Laurel said during the hearing.
“I’m not against the local government. But the local industry ng Vietnam ng rice requested the government na magreklamo sa WTO. So it's not the position of the government. What my warning is to the local industry. Huwag naman ganyan. Dalawang buwan lang naman hinihintay namin,” Tiu Laurel clarified following the House committee hearing.
The Vietnam Food Association earlier called on its trade ministry to challenge the Philippines’ decision to temporarily stop rice importation with traders, saying this could decrease Vietnamese prices further.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the 60-day import ban, set to start on September 1, to protect local farmers affected by low palay prices.
To cushion the potential blow of banning rice imports coming from Vietnam, Tiu Luarel said India showed interest in taking a “big share” of the Vietnamese market.
“Galing lang akong India… I met with the industry. They want to take a big share of the Vietnamese market. Myanmar is just starting to export to the Philippines. And ang laki rin ng production nila. Cambodia also… Luckily, marami namang gustong mag-supply sa ‘tin,” Tiu Laurel told reporters.
The DA chief added, importing from India could be cheaper, but shipping is likely to take a longer time.
Transport would take just 8 to 10 days if the rice comes from Vietnam, but this would take 25-30 days coming from India, according to Tiu Laurel.
Tiu Laurel also confirmed extending the import ban to 90 days is possible so farmers could recover.
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