General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat Mr. Chanpithya Shimphalee together with APTERR team comprising Japanese expert Mr. Yoshiharu Toeda and Head of Implementation Sub-Division Ms.Jansinee Kankaew, attended the ceremonial turn-over and actual distribution of 225 MT rice organised by the National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines on 12 January 2018 at the Mahad Markazie Evacuation centre, Baloi, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao.
NFA Administrator Lt. Col. Jason L.Y. Aquino, Minister for Economic Affairs of Japanese Embassy in the Philippines Mr. Makoto Iyori, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Ms. Luzviminda C. Ilagan as well as other representatives from local offices also participated in this significant event.
The rice was contributed by the Government of Japan through APTERR to help people affected by conflict in Marawi. The NFA in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will allocate the donated rice to 7,485 households in 13 cities/municipalities. Some of beneficiaries are still living in the evaluation centres while some have already returned to their home. At the ceremonial turn over. There were 125 rice bags allocated to the beneficiaries during the ceremonial turn-over program