MANILA, Philippines -- Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap expressed confidence that the country will be able to import as much as 700,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam by June or July, beefing up the country's stockpile to a high of 45-60 days.

As a matter of policy, the National Food Authority is tasked to maintain a buffer stock equivalent to at least 15 days consumption throughout the year, and a 30-day stockpile during the lean months from July to September.

In a briefing, Yap said the 700,000-ton shipment is part of the 1.5 million tons that the Vietnamese government has committed to supply the Philippines, amid tight global supply. The memorandum of agreement was signed last Wednesday.

Vietnam will be able to deliver as much volume despite its reduced export target of 3.5 million tons, Yap said, adding that it was doing precisely "to honor its commitment" to the Philippines.

The agriculture chief explained that the volume to be procured from Vietnam will be included in the 500,000 tons to be tendered on April 17.

"The NFA is going to be engaged in a continuous active procurement throughout the year, every other week or every month, until we get sufficient stocks," he said.

With these additional volumes, Yap said the Department of Agriculture is set to increase its distribution of both regular milled rice at P18.25 a kilo and commercial rice at P24-P25 a kilo starting April 1.

"Initially, in Metro Manila, we are going to distribute an additional 10,000 bags a day. Consumption here is about 70,000 to 80,000 bags a day," he said.

Meanwhile, Yap has also declared the Department of Agriculture an "open house," enabling legislators to ask him or even the whole department questions involving rice production, distribution and NFA operations.

"I will write a letter to Senate President Manuel Villar and House Speaker Prospero Nograles and coordinate with them regarding this proposal of making myself available for their questions,” he said.

“I'm asking the public as well to look at the rice issue as it is,” Yap said, adding the issue should not be politicized.

Yap has likewise called for a more structured discussion regarding the country's rice situation to clarify issues and dispel notions of a crisis or shortage.

"This is not an issue of shortage but rather of price. Prices of rice have been increasing and we have to understand why. I think the more important question even is what is the government doing in terms of distribution, production and procurement," he said.