Japan provides P664m to enhance PH rice supply chain
Japan has allocated ¥1.7 billion (around ₱664 million) to support the National Food Authority’s buffer stocking program through a rice processing facility in Cauayan City, Isabela. The project aims to boost post-harvest capacity and assist farming communities hit by recent calamities, strengthening Philippines-Japan agricultural cooperation.
The Government of Japan has allocated ¥1.7 billion (approximately P664 million) to support the buffer stocking mandate of the National Food Authority (NFA), through the establishment and operationalization of a rice processing facility in Cauayan City, Isabela.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro on Thursday underscored the timeliness and significance of the project, noting that it is an ‘effort to assist agricultural communities affected by the recent typhoons and earthquakes in the country’.
”I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to initiatives and projects like this that support the recovery and resilience of our agricultural communities in the face of calamities,” the Secretary said.
“This assistance from the Government of Japan proves, time and again, the strength and reliability of the development partnership between the Philippines and Japan,” she added.
For his part, Chargé d’affaires Ad Interim Ono Sho expressed hope that the project will significantly improve rice production and post-harvest infrastructure in the Philippines, benefiting rice farmers and ensuring a stable, affordable supply for consumers.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to secure the livelihoods of farmers and ensure a stable, affordable supply of rice. In achieving these, we hope to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Philippine agriculture,” he said.
The agreement was formalized through a signing and exchange of notes between Lazaro and Ono on the “Economic and Social Development Program” at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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Source : Manila Standard
