The Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) said on Friday it had set a tender for June 27 to buy 132,000 tonnes of rice for arrival in July and August.
Gregorio Tan, NFA administrator, said the bulk of the fresh grain requirement would be imported from Thailand and the rest from Australia and China, bringing up to 1.56 million tonnes the total volume of rice the government will have imported this year.
About 92,000 tonnes of rice would come from Thailand, 25,000 tonnes from China and 15,000 tonnes from Australia, he added.
"We may have a lower importation this year by 50,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes this yeas due to La Nina," Tan told Reuters.
The Southeast Asian country imported 1.8 million tonnes of grain last year after its harvest was hit by drought. It was projected to import about 1.70-1.75 million tonnes this year.
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