A Philippines tender for 500,000 tonnes of imported rice has fallen short with just 325,750 tonnes offered, the government said Friday, reports AFP.

Thursday''s tender for rice imports highlighted difficulties faced by Manila and fellow rice importers in stocking up on the staple cereal amid surging prices that has triggered food riots in some countries.

The National Food Authority, the main agency tasked with importing rice, said traders told the government agency there was simply no more rice available.

However newspaper reports said the traders were seeking a price higher than the 872.50 to 1,220 dollars per tonne offered by the food authority.

Officials said that despite the failure to fill the order completely, the Philippines still had enough rice reserves to avoid a shortage.

They also expressed confidence that a similar tender for 500,000 tonnes of rice in May will be met as foreign governments had made commitments the supplies would be available.

Meanwhile, military chief General Hermogenes Esperon said Friday that special government-subsidised rice would be sold at military commissaries to ensure that soldiers and their families would be able to afford the staple.

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