Confiscated Jasmine rice distributed

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday led the distribution of confiscated rice to some 5,000 poor beneficiaries in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Gatchalian said the rice distribution in Zamboanga served as a kick-off event since the more than 42,000 bags of Jasmine rice seized by the Bureau of Customs have been donated to the DSWD.

"We expect more than 42,000 poorest Filipinos to benefit from the seized rice by the BOC, which is in line with the President's directive to crack down on rice smugglers and hoarders," the DSWD chief said.

The DSWD-Field Office 9 (ZamboPen Region) prepared the list of the 5,000 "poorest of the poor" who were the first batch of recipients of 25 kilos of the high-grade Jasmine fragrant white rice, according to DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Group Josefina Romualdez.

"There will be simultaneous distribution of 25 kilos of Jasmine rice to 5,000 poorest of the poor beneficiaries in the municipalities of Tungawan and Sibuco and the City of Zamboanga," Romualdez said.