The Manila Economic and Cultural Office accepted on Tuesday 500 metric tons of rice donation from Taiwan.

The rice stocks, which arrived on October 15, is part of the 2,000-metric ton rice donation to the Philippines facilitated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office late last year.

“We are accepting the rice donation amid the very recent massive flooding and devastation in wide areas of Luzon that destroyed lives and properties. We hope a portion of this donation could find its way to the families and communities badly hit by the calamity,” MECO Chairperson Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, MNSA said.

Chairperson Garafil added: “We are thankful to TECO, and appreciate the generosity of Taiwan for the donation. We are sure that this donation will go a long way in easing the burden of  calamity victims and the poorest in the communities.”

MECO has so far received 1,500 metric tons of the rice donation which started to arrive in December, January and October. The last shipment is expected next month.

All donated Taiwan rice stocks were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to the most needy and the victims of calamities in the country.

Chairperson Garafil said, Taiwan’s generosity symbolizes the strengthening people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Taiwan.

“We thank Taiwan for its generosity, not only as a neighbor but more so as a long-time friend of the Filipino people,” she said. —###