A total of 8,615 bags of American rice given by the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) to the victims of typhoon Pepeng in La Union have arrived on July 27 and were hauled temporarily to the Ortega Cultural and Sports Center here.
The cargo came from Manila and delivered by trucks.
Of the total 8, 615, San Fernando will get the bulk of 6,568, while the towns of Caba and Bauang will get 1,830 bags and 217 bags, respectively.
Mayor Pablo Ortega said that the rice assistance would be of great help to the victims of calamities and some are intended to the Food for Work Program as approved by WFP.
“These (rice) would be distributed based on the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who helped us in obtaining these international aid due to the devastation brought by typhoon Pepeng in our area and for our project proposal on Food for Work Program submitted to WFP,” Mayor Ortega said.
Mayor Ortega said he would ask the DSWD if it’s possible for the city government to hold some of the stocks so that it could be used in case of disaster.
It was learned that the San Fernando social welfare office, right after typhoon Pepeng, reported to DSWD the number of casualties and affected families along with the project proposal which in turn was submitted by DSWD to WFP.
A DSWD supply officer, who supervised the unloading of rice, said the food assistance would cost around P12 million.
Meanwhile, a total of 13, 250 metric tons or 225, 000 bags of Vietnam rice have arrived at the Poro Point seaport here as part of the importation of the National Food Authority to augment supply during the lean months of July to September.
NFA and port authorities said that the vessel M/V Binhphuoc was loaded with 90,000 bags while the M/V Duy Thai 27 has a load of 135, 000 bags.
The rice supply was intended for the Ilocos region
Aside from the figure of the cargo, NFA authorities could not give other details on the purchase of the rice. |
