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COVID-19 Relief: Japan Donates Two Metric Tons of Pre-Cooked Rice to Philippines

MANILA – Japan has donated two metric tons of pre-cooked rice to the Philippines as part of its novel coronavirus relief efforts to the country, the Japan Embassy in Manila said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Embassy said the donation was turned over in a ceremony led by Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs Masahiro Nakata and National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Judy Carol Dansal at the agency's auditorium in Quezon City on Oct. 8.

The Embassy added that the donated pre-cooked rice will be distributed to families affected by COVID-19 in Quezon City, Manila and select municipalities of Bulacan and Cavite.

“Japan supports food security for Filipino citizens in this pandemic,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said in a tweet.

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) procured the pre-cooked rice under the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).

The regional cooperation among the ASEAN nations Plus Three countries, namely Japan, China and South Korea, aims to strengthen food security, alleviate poverty and eradicate malnourishment. - Florenda Corpuz

(Photo courtesy of Japan Embassy, Manila)