RICE importers have until Friday, February 3, to apply for their allocation under the 187,000 Metric tons (MT) Minimum Access volume (MAV)-Omnibus for 2012 that the National Food Authority (NFA) will import.

In a published notice, NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo said interested rice importers must submit their applications before 5 p.m. of February 3. Any application submitted after 5 pm will be rejected.

“Pursuant to the powers granted to the NFA under Presidential Decree 4, as amended, to undertake direct importation of rice or to allocate import quotas and to establish rules and regulations governing the importation of rice and in compliance to the Philippine Government’s commitment to the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade-World Trade Organization [GATT-WTO] in exchange for the concessions granted, the Philippine government agreed to import a MAV of 350,000 MT of rice every year,” the NFA general guidelines stated.

“Out of which, 187,000 MT will be allowed entry into the country provided interested importers are willing to pay 40-percent tariff on rice imports. All rice imported under this program shall be omnibus in origin i.e. any country of origin,” it added.

Banayo said the MAV-Omnibus is open to interested rice importers that will qualify and submit the necessary documents. The general requirements include a letter of intent, valid and updated NFA import license for 2012, mayors permit for 2012, and supplier’s Import Pro-forma invoice.

The NFA added that other documents include the rice importer’s registration with the Bureau of Customs to secure the 12-digit Customs Client Number and Bureau of Internal Revenue certificate of registration indicating their tax identification number.

This year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has set the rice import target at 500,000 MT, much a lower than the 860,000 MT set last year.

The reduced target is in line with the Aquino administration’s aim of achieving zero rice imports after 2013.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said that the DA aims to increase palay production to 18.46 million MT this year. Last year, palay output reached 16.68 million MT.

Palay production accounts for 15 percent of agriculture growth and crops account for 50 percent of farm output.