Philippines plans to buy 800,000 tonnes rice: official

LOS BANOS: The Philippines plans to import around 800,000 tonnes rice this year even if a government council allowed purchases of up to 1.3 million tonnes, the agriculture secretary said on Monday.

Proceso Alcala told Reuters he prefers the private sector to bring in the bulk, or 600,000 tonnes, of this year's planned rice purchases starting May to June.

He said the government wants to cut its rice imports in 2012 by half, or about 400,000 tonnes, against this year before it achieves its goal of rice self-sufficiency by 2013.