Straying from the nationwide issue of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), South Korea donated 950 metric tons of rice to the Philippines. According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), this donation by South Korea was for last year’s disaster – not the globally infamous COVID-19.
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Who would receive this beneficiary?
As per the department, the people who would be given this beneficiary would be people that had felt the worse scenarios of last year’s earthquake victims. These were certain provinces and municipalities in regions XI and XII.
This was for the calamity that struck Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, as well as other provinces, municipalities, and cities in regions XI and XII. Moreover, this donation also covers the flood victims in Cagayan Valley.
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William Dar, Secretary of the DA , said that they are blissfully thanking the South Korean government Moon Jae-in as well as the people in the country for the kind-hearted donations they provided us.
On behalf of President Duterte, we would like to thank President Moon Jae-in and the people of the Republic of Korea for their generosity in helping our countrymen who suffered and survived a series of earthquake in Mindanao and flooding in Cagayan Valley.”
This is a sign of South Korea’s support to the Philippines
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) Minister Kim Hyeon-Soo, said that this act of donation is to show that their country is in full support to the Philippines. With this donation, they hope that the Philippines get well.
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South Korea’s donation is a manifestation of your country’s dependable support and concern to the Filipino people, and rest assured the rice will go beyond its initial intended purpose.”
This rice donation is actually from the MAFRA and they’ve been compiled and shipped by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and the Food Trade Corporation to the National Food Authority of the Philippines (NFA).
When the shipments arrived
As per the DFA, the 950 metric tons of rice that South Korea donates arrived at the General Santos City and the Manila ports carrying 650 metric tons and 300 metric tons, respectively. Temporarily, it was kept and stored at the warehouses of the NFA.
After South Korea donated 950 metric tons of rice and after it arrived on our ports, it should be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the correct distribution to regions XI and XII, as per Judy Carol Dansal, NFA Administrator.
The NFA is set to turn over the South Korean rice donation to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to affected families in Regions 11, 12, and Cagayan Valley as identified by the DSWD in coordination with the concerned LGUs.”
The ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Tier 3 is a corporation that is conspired by different countries in the ASEAN region. The countries of China, Japan, and South Korea form it.
Buying high and selling “low”
South Korea donated 950 metric tons of rice for the earthquake victims; what about the current situation with the Coronavirus? Alfredo A. Garbin, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep said that the NFA can help in the current situation by matching their prices with traders.
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What they can do, according to him is to purchase unmilled rice or palay at a higher rate and sell it at a normal price. This way, consumers, NFA Farmers, and even some local governments can be assisted to be able to source and purchase rice more to be given to poor families.
As a matter of fact, Garbin said that this can be treated as a higher tax. This type of subsidy can be their part in fighting against the infamous COVID-19. Land owners can now take this opportunity to help the needy in this dire times of crisis.
After giving good value to the rice farmers for their harvest, NFA can then sell at a loss in public markets, pricing its rice at lower than the prevailing market prices for commercial rice.”
Today, almost everyone is struggling to find food to eat in the mess that the COVID-19 has done. Cities and countries are stumbling and hopefully, we’re nearer to the solution.
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Our country can’t thank South Korea enough for their donation of 950 metric tons of rice despite the calamity that the pandemic has provided. But what do you think about the fact that South Korea donated 950 metric tons of rice to our country? Despite the same situation we have with them, would it be right for us to be given donations?
Source/s: Business World Online | Business Mirror PH
