THE Philippines is eyeing to wipe out rice imports by 2010 with the implementation of its “rice self-sufficiency master plan,” which primarily targets a “100-percent rice self-sufficiency” by increasing production.

“A 100-percent self-sufficiency is not impossible, especially since the government is investing heavily in rice production,” said Leocadio Sebastian, executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), in a phone interview.

Sebastian said the “rice self-sufficiency master plan” will primarily target to step up the provision of agricultural-extension services to rice farmers and provide production loans to them.

The PhilRice official said the Department of Agriculture (DA) may submit the rice self-sufficiency blueprint to Malacañang by Friday for the President’s approval.

In a statement, the DA said the general and location-specific intervention programs of this blueprint are now being firmed up by the DA along with seven former agriculture secretaries; two former administrators of the National Food Authority (NFA); officials of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), PhilRice, the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna (UPLB); and other experts from farm-based nongovernment organizations.

IRRI deputy director general William Padolina, for his part, said the success of the rice self-sufficiency plan will hinge on the government’s “political will.”

“A lot...will depend on how the national government will allocate resources. Also, the local government units have to be mobilized in a concerted manner so they can provide the necessary extension services to farmers,” said Padolina.

The IRRI official said the provision of agricultural-extension service to rice farmers is crucial to enable them to optimize their resources and increase their production.

Sebastian said the implementation of the rice self-sufficiency blueprint will go into high gear by the dry season of 2009. By 2010 the goal is to become 100-percent self-sufficient in palay production.

This means that the Philippines will no longer have to import rice from neighboring Asian countries. This year the government is importing a minimum of 2.1 million metric tons (MMT) of rice to plug its production shortfall and beef up the country’s buffer stock.

The DA is currently overseeing the implementation of the P43.7-billion “FIELDS Package” announced by President Arroyo during the last National Food Summit held on April 4.

FIELDS stands for Fertilizers; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension, education and farmers’ training; Loans; Dryers and other postharvest facilities; and Seeds of the high-yielding varieties.

President Arroyo had announced during the food summit that P500 million will be set aside for fertilizers; P6 billion for irrigation works and P6 billion more for farm-to-market roads; P5 billion for extension and education, P15 billion for loans; P2 billion for postharvest facilities; and P9.2 billion for seeds.

THE consumer group Consumer and Oil Price Watch (COPW) urged power-industry stakeholders such as the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to be transparent in their rate adjustment, particularly when they increase their charges to their customers.

THE Philippines is eyeing to wipe out rice imports by 2010 with the implementation of its “rice self-sufficiency master plan,” which primarily targets a “100-percent rice self-sufficiency” by increasing production.

CABANATUAN CITY—Confused about what to do with their newly harvested palay, or unmilled rice, even as Nueva Ecija traders continue to refuse to buy them, some farmers thought of just storing them at home and cease from planting this coming wet-season cropping.

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