PIA Dispatch - Friday, April 30, 2010

Thai Government Donates Rice for RP Typhoon Victims

The government of Thailand is set to turn over to the Philippine government some 520 metric tons (MT) or 10,400 bags of rice for distribution to calamity victims, particularly those affected by typhoon “Ondoy” in Metro Manila and selected provinces in Central and Southern Luzon.

The rice donation was pledged by Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vijajiva to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the ASEAN+3 Summit held in Thailand last October 24, 2009.

Turnover ceremonies shall be held on May 4, 2010 at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse along Visayas  Avenue in Quezon City .

The rice donation was coursed through the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve (EAERR), a regional cooperation scheme among ASEAN countries, China , Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3 countries). The EAERR is aimed at strengthening food security and reducing poverty in East Asia . Each member country pledges a certain volume of rice stocks for the EAERR which can be released to meet emergency rice requirements among the member countries.

Rice stocks from the EAERR are released under the following schemes: Tier 1- to address the lingering/after effect of a calamity and to strengthen food security; Tier 2 - to address an emergency caused by a calamity situation; and Tier 3 - for poverty alleviation and/or malnourishment eradication program.

The Thai rice donation was made possible under the Tier 3 scheme. The stocks were shipped to the Philippines on March 7, 2010 and are currently stored at the NFA MFC Warehouse in Valenzuela, Metro Manila.

Beneficiaries of the Thai rice donation have been identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (DIRECTOR REX C. ESTOPEREZ)