MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) is likely to award rights to 7 groups to bring in a total of 16,000 tons sugar by May 15, government sources said on Thursday.

The volume to be shipped by the 7 groups that participated in the February 23 auction of sugar import rights was well below the 60,000 tons Manila had sought to bring in.

Sources said the formal award of the rights was set for Friday.

Rosemarie Gumera, manager at the Sugar Regulatory Agency, had said the February 23 auction's thin offers were probably a result of stabilizing local prices.

The government was likely to rebid the remaining volume of 44,000 tons later, Gumera had said.

The sugar volume at Tuesday's tender is part of the 150,000 tons the country has said it would import to stabilise domestic costs after a jump in global prices on supply worries.