ABOUT 49,000 metric tons of well milled Vietnamese rice were delivered by seven vessels to the Cebu International Port (CIP) since last month.
“Of the 49,000 metric tons, the 30,000 metric tons are intended for Western Visayas while the remaining 19,000 metric tons will be for Central Visayas’ buffer stock,” said Olma Marie Bayno, information officer of the regional National Food Authority (NFA-7).
The shipment forms part of the 250,000 metric tons of imported rice delivered to the CIP.
One vessel unloaded its shipment while the second vessel is scheduled to unload its rice shipment this month.
Cebu’s ports have so far received 2,283,422 bags of imported rice out of the 3,400,000 bags allocated for Central Visayas this year.
“The rest of the vessels are anchored at the midstream awaiting for available berthing space,” Bayno said.
She said only one berthing space was allocated by the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) for the seven vessels.
But Bayno said Cebu has enough warehouses to store the rice stocks.