DSWD receives 1,632 MT rice from SoKor

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received yesterday 1,632 metric tons of rice from the government of South Korea. 

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian received South Korea’s rice donation from Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa during simple handover ceremonies held at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.

The donation was made possible through the World Food Program led by its Representative and Country Director Regis Chapman. 

To formalize the acceptance of the rice donation, Gatchalian signed the deed of donation together with Lee and Chapman.

Gatchalian said the donated rice, valued at more than P32 million, will be repacked and form part of the DSWD’s family food packs for distribution to disaster-affected families.

In his remarks, Lee said the role of rice was not only as a staple but as a symbol of survival, national identity and social stability, particularly in Southeast Asia. He expressed solidarity with the Filipinos affected by recent typhoons and southeast monsoon.

After the turnover, Gatchalian led the guests on a tour around the different warehouses at the NROC.

Joining the handover ceremony were Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group as well as Special Assistant to the Secretary Leo Quintilla, also the officer-in-charge of the DSWD-National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau.

The South Korean donation to the DSWD was part of 2,016 metric tons of rice to support the Philippines’ effort in disaster response, climate change adaptation and peace-building.

Some 384 metric tons meanwhile will be delivered to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to aid peace and development initiatives in the region. — Pia Lee-Brago