President Duterte invites country’s big rice traders to “have coffee” with him to discuss rice supply situation

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said that President Rodrigo Duterte wants to talk to the country’s big rice traders.

In a Facebook post, President Rodrigo Duterte tasked the National Food Authority to invite the rice traders to “have coffee” with him and to discuss the situation of national rice supply in the country.

“You invite them. Sabihin mo mag-kape lang kami,” was reportedly Duterte’s instruction to NFA Administrator Jason Aquino during a closed door meeting with the NFA council in Malacañang.

According to Pinol the President said he would like to convey to the traders his wish that the Filipino consumers would not be made to suffer from high prices of rice.

“Not during my watch,” the President said.