The DSWD received this week some five thousand metric tons of rice from Thailand, through the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority.

Acting General Manager Nongnooch Deetae of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) said that the Kingdom of Thailand was deeply saddened of the many lives lost, and announced that two more donations are coming –  350 metric tons of rice from Malaysia, and  600 metric tons of rice from Japan.  She added by saying, “ that with the little donation, I wish that Yolanda victims will be back on their feet.”

Said donation was a gesture of a true spirit of being a fellow member of the ASEAN nation,  DSWD Field Office Eight Director Nestor Ramos, who represented Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman, emphasized in the turn – over ceremony held at the DSWD Relief Hub in Apitong, TaclobanCity.  “We can assure you that you will always be a part of history,  in the recovery and in the hearts of our internally displaced persons (IDPs), referring to the 200,000 Yolanda victims of the 42 hardest hit municipalities in the provinces of Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Samar, he further said.

For Leyte, there are more than 150, 523 IDPs in 34 municipalities, close to 29, 858 families of 12 towns of Eastern Samar, and 19, 619 in six areas of Samar.

The turn-over rites was also attended by NFA Administrator Orlando Calayag and Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.