Press Release
August 15, 2018

SEN. NANCY BINAY: USE P200M SEIZED RICE TO HELP HABAGAT VICTIMS

Senator Nancy Binay today urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to turn over the smuggled rice the agency has seized to the social welfare department's relief operations for flood victims.

"Nanawagan po ako kay Commissioner Isidro Lapeña ng Customs na i-turn over na lang ng kanilang ahensya yung P200 million worth ng bigas na nasabat nila nitong mga nakaraang araw sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)," Binay said.

The bureau intercepted 50,000 sacks of rice worth P175 million last Monday, while another 10,000 sacks were seized in a Laguna warehouse last July.

Binay said that instead of letting the rice rot in warehouses or in container vans, or reselling it, the BOC should consider the welfare of thousands affected by past weather disturbances.

"Marami pong mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng mga nakaraang bagyo at ng habagat ang matutulungan nung nasabat na 60,000 sacks of rice," Binay said.

"Nakatulong na tayo sa relief efforts ng DSWD, imbes na masira o mabulok lamang ang bigas na ito sa mga warehouse o container vans," she added.

Binay also said that the BOC can also turn over the rice to the affected local government units (LGUs) themselves.

"Kung gusto po ng BOC, pwede po nilang i-diretso na ang turn over ng bigas sa mismong mga LGUs," Binay said.

"Sa ganitong paraan, mas mapapabilis siguro ang distribution sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan," she added.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its August 15 situational report, said that around 820,000 persons or about 187,000 families were affected by the southwest monsoon, which was enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding (Yagi).

These families are in regions I, III, CALABARZON, CAR and NCR.

Of these, around 41,000 families or about 181,000 persons are being served inside and outside evacuation centers.

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