MANILA will utilize its emergency purchase power to bring in “much needed” rice from abroad, in addition to a previously approved amount of rice import for this year, a top official of the National Food Authority (NFA) said on Friday.

“We are now in the process of crafting the terms of reference for the emergency purchase of some 250,000. It will be out any time soon. It just needs the approval of the President,” the source told The Manila Times.