MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will release 7,000 sacks of suspected smuggled rice to those affected by Typhoon Ompong.
In a statement, BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said they would course their donation through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that would distribute the rice to the typhoon victims.
The suspected smuggled rice loaded in 14 shipping containers was seized at the Port of Cebu and would be released to typhoon victims in compliance with the directive of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to release seized rice and other food items to the DSWD.
“On Sept. 14 and 15, we were on the peak of preparation for the donation of available rice upon instruction of the Secretary of Finance, Secretary Dominguez, that all available food items, rice especially, will be donated for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Ompong,” Lapeña said. – With Helen Flores, Mayen Jaymalin