CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Under the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), the Republic of Korea donated 400 MT of pre-positioned stockpiled emergency rice reserves (equivalent to 10,000 bags at 40kg per bag) to the shearline and low pressure area (LPA) affected families in Regions 9, 10, and 11.

With the converged efforts between the national and local government offices, 1 sack of rice per household is given to the 68 identified totally damaged houses in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, through a ceremonial rice turnover. The 10,000 sacks of rice will be split between the three regions. Region 9 will get 3,333, Region 10 will get 3,333, and Region 11 will get 3,334.

The Republic of Korea has identified the regions in Mindanao due to the high numbers of affected families reported on the onslaught of both Shearline and LPA. The distribution of food items shall be based on the request(s) of the respective local government units (LGUs).

Undersecretary Marco M. Bautista of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) personally graced the event, extending his sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of Korea for its generosity and kindness.

"Rest assured that any and every effort shall be exerted to ensure that these will be given and distributed to the affected families," said Bautista. (DSWD-10/PIA-10)