By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
The Government of South Korea provided 750 metric tons of rice assistance to the affected communities in the Philippines hit by typhoon and earthquake in Eastern Visayas, Davao and Soccsksargen in Mindanao.
The rice was turned over to the National Food Authority (NFA) as grant aid under the Tier 3 Program of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR). The fact that 750 MT of rice assistance coincides with the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines this year makes the assistance all the more meaningful.
Through a simple ceremony at Calbayog City, Western Samar, attended by NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco, officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Agriculture, and Minster/Consul-General Sang Seung Man of the Korean Embassy in the Philippines.
NFA Administrator Bioco expressed gratitude for Korea’s rice assistance that will contribute to the relief of the disaster-affected people. Meanwhile, Minister/Consul-General Sang stressed that “as agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate crisis that has been worsening recently, Korea will strengthen bilateral cooperation in this area,” and said that Korea will continue to contribute in tackling food security challenges of the Philippines.
In 2023, the Korean government donated 400 metric tons of rice to the Philippines under APTERR.
