The DSWD-7 through the Disaster Response Management Division, in partnership with the National Food Authority (NFA-7), delivers 6,666 sacks of Japan-donated rice to identified local government units in the Province of Bohol and Cebu in the entire month of May 2022.

The donated rice, weighing 30 kilos per sack, was donated by the Government of Japan through their Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF-Japan) under the Tier 3 Program of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).

The number of sacks was between the provinces and then were directly delivered to identified local government units for release to Typhoon Odette-affected families.

Among the areas identified for Bohol are: Alicia, Balilihan, Calape, Carmen, Loon, Mabini, Valencia, Tagbilaran City, and Tubigon; For Cebu towns: Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Boljoon, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, and Ronda.

In the Memorandum of Agreement between NFA and DSWD regarding the distribution of rice, DSWD Field Office 7 is in-charge of the transfer of stocks from the NFA warehouse to the receiving LGU and assists in the distribution and releasing of donated rice to the beneficiaries.

At the Turnover Ceremony in Balilihan, the Minister of Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Mr. Masahiro Nakata, DSWD-Disaster Response Management Bureau Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan, and NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal shared their hope to build stronger ties between Japan and the Philippines. ###

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