Duterte says rice importation still a go; producers can’t “fill up requirements,” he says

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, Nov. 22, said the country will continue to import rice even with the local farmers’ ongoing harvest.

In a speech in Sarangani, the President said this was because “the producer cannot fill up the requirements.”

“It’s lacking,” he said.

Duterte made the statement days after he said rice importation would be suspended to allow local farmers to sell their products without competition from abroad.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President changed his mind after a meeting with Agriculture Secretary William Dar and other officials on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The government will reportedly impose stricter importation requirements instead.

“Siguro naipaliwanag ni Secretary Dar kung ano ang mas magandang gawin,” Panelo had said on Friday, Nov. 22.