Manila could import rice soon to replenish its depleting stockpile following the approval of the National Food Authority Council (NFAC) of a 250,000-metric ton (MT) volume of standby authority for National Food Authority (NFA) bufferstock. NFA Spokesman Rebecca Olarte said the food agency’s current rice- bufferstock volume is at a limited level caused by weather disturbances that hit some regions in the country last month. Right now, our bufferstock is slowly depleting. As early as November, the NFA has requested for authority for rice importation.