The Philippines Department of Agriculture has revealed that it is likely to hold a tender to import an unspecified amount of rice on Friday.

Apart from Vietnam and Thailand, suppliers from Japan, Pakistan, India and China have been invited to take part in the tender.

In early May, the NFA held a tender exclusive to state suppliers involving 675,000 MT of rice. The agency eventually called off the tender after receiving just one bid.

The state-run National Food Authority has so far signed contracts to buy 1.7 million MT of rice.