Taiwan donated 1,000 metric tons (MT) of milled rice to serve as additional supply to the relief and pro-poor programs of the Department of Social and Welfare Development.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines Representative Wallace Chow turned over the donation to Manila Economic and Cultural Office Chairman Silvestre Bello III in a ceremony in Makati on Thursday.

Chow recognized that the Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries that bears the brunt of climate change.

“The issues on food security and food safety have never failed to take center stage of attention, especially when it involves humanitarian concerns caused by natural disasters, or escalating violent conflicts happening around the world,” he said.

Chow said TECO will donate 2,000 metric tons of rice in total, making this the first batch.

The donation is part of TECO’s ongoing initiatives in the Philippines, which also includes the operations of Taiwan Technical Mission on Agriculture in Tarlac, the Mushroom Demonstration Farm in Baguio, and the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan.

TECO said representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA) were also present during the ceremony. (PNA)