Ceremonial Hand-over of 425 metric tons of Rice Donation from Japan to Taal Eruption victims in Batangas

 
　　　On October 26, 2020 in Batangas City, Economic Minister NAKATA Masahiro of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines attended a ceremonial turn-over of 425 metric tons of rice donation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan under the framework of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR). Also present were National Food Authority Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal and Department of Social Welfare and Development Bureau Director Emmanuel P. Privado, and Province of Batangas Provincial Administator Levi G. Dimaunahan. Victims affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano last January are the recipients of the rice donation.
 
　　　APTERR is a regional cooperation among ASEAN+3 countries, which aims to strengthen food security, alleviate poverty, and eradicate malnourishment. This initiative started in 2002 during the ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF+3).  In 2019, Japan provided 560 metric tons of rice under the APTERR to households from Ilocos Norte affected by Typhoon Ineng (international name Bailu) and those from Pangasinan affected by Typhoon Jenny (international name Podul)