BOC Zambo sends seized rice to ‘Ompong’ victims

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this city has donated 6,921 bags of rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be part of the continued relief assistance for the victims of Typhoon “Ompong.”

Zamboanga City Customs district Collector Lyceo C. Martinez said BOC Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña ordered him on Thursday to donate to the DSWD the confiscated imported rice.

“Upon receipt of the order from Commissioner Lapeña, I immediately ordered our personnel here to ready and to release immediately 6,921 bags of glutinous rice to the DSWD in this city,” Martinez said.

In his letter to DSWD Region 9 Director Araceli F. Solamillo, Martinez said that as “per directive from President Rodrigo Duterte and upon instruction from our Commissioner, the Bureau of Customs is hereby donating 6,921 bags of glutinous rice to your office for you to use them in your relief assistance for the affected families of Typhoon Ompong.”

It added: “We hope that our support will provide comfort to the victims during this difficult moment.”

Meanwhile, the City Agriculturist Office in this city has registered more than 11 million in damage to crops due to Typhoon Ompong.

City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez said vegetable farms absorbed the most damage, costing more than 1800,000, mostly affecting cabbage and eggplants.

She also said that a total of 12 hectares of seaweeds amounting to 1210,000 was also destroyed by the rains.