May 7, 2008 -

The government failed in the bidding for rice with other countries last Monday. President Arroyo announced that top rice producing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam hesitated to participate in the bidding that usually increases the price of rice in the global market. Arroyo now has arranged for the authorities to start purchasing rice directly from outside countries to stop the rice commotion in the country. The Philippines are now trying to find more suppliers to provide rice for the population.

Vietnam has agreed to bring in 1.5 million tons of rice to the Philippines by this year, BBC News reported. (This picture was extracted from here.)

The Southeast Asian community have decided to collaborate over the price and supply issue of the rice market, but no action has yet to be taken.

 To access this article in the Philippine Star, click here.