Japan Donates 20 Metric Tons of Rice to Pateros Elementary School under the School Distribution Programme of the APTERR

On 16 November 2023, Embassy of Japan Minister for Economic Affairs NIHEI Daisuke led the ceremonial turnover for the donation of 20 metric tons of rice to Pateros Elementary School. The donation is under the “School Distribution Programme” (SDP) of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR). 
 
The SDP is initiated by the Government of Japan, under APTERR Tier 3 Program. Its primary objective is to provide food assistance to actively enrolled school children. The SDP extends supports to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’ School Feeding Program, which also aims to contribute to the nutritional well-being of vulnerable students and empower them to pursue their education with improved health. Pateros Elementary School is the first beneficiary of SDP in the Philippines. About 1,953 kindergarten and preparatory students are set to benefit from program, with each student expected to receive 10 kilogram pack of rice. 

In his speech, Minister NIHEI reaffirmed the Japanese Government’s steadfast support for initiatives and pledged further collaboration with the National Food Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and APTERR Secretariat to ensure regional food sufficiency.

Also in attendance during the ceremony were National Food Authority Administrator Roderico R. Bioco, Pateros Mayor Miguel “IKE” PONCE III, APTERR Secretariat General Manager Choomjet Karnjanakesorn and Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Japan Director OKUHIIRA Kenji.

Japan also turned over 300 metric tons of rice from Japan to the families affected by Mr. Mayon Eruption under APTERR in August 2023.